Yellow-eyed grass is a native California perennial that grows 1-2 feet tall and wide. It has pale green, iris-like leaves that turn black when dried, and stems flattened with herbaceous wings. In late spring and early summer it produces small, star-like yellow flowers with brownish veins. It is well suited for moist or seasonally damp areas like rain gardens and along paths. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies and its seeds are eaten by birds. It requires full sun to part shade and semi-moist to moist soil in spring and summer, tapering off water in late summer and fall.

1. * Yellow-eyed Grass – Sisyrinchium californicum
(sis-ee-RINK-ee-um kal-ih-FOR-nik-um)
Family: Iridaceae (Iris Family)
Western coast from British Columbia to N. & central CA; primarily in moist-wet
peripheries of ponds, bogs, marshes, lakeshores, moist grasslands, other moist sites near the coast.
Native to:
clumping perennial
mature height: 1-2 ft.
mature width: 1-2+ ft.
Spreading herbaceous perennial from creeping rhizomes.
Pale-green, iris-like, linear leaves turn
black upon drying. Stems flattened with herbaceous wings. Plant is drought deciduous.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms late spring/early summer in wild (May-June), but may bloom much longer
with regular water. Flowers look like Blue-eyed Grass – but are entirely yellow, often with brownish
veins. Blooms in clusters of small, star-like flowers that open in the morning and close by mid-day.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Good choice for moist or seasonally damp places like seasonal swales, rain
gardens, etc. Looks nice along paths and as an edging for beds. Lovely in containers, planters.
Will naturalize, so good choice for native meadows. Good around water features like ponds,
streams, fountains, birdbaths etc.
Can be used as a summer-deciduous groundcover.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native perennials with similar habit like dwarf Iris.
Attracts:
Hummingbirds, bees, butterflies collect the nectar. Birds eat the seeds.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun to part-shade.
Any – sand to clay; does well in heavy clays. Any local pH.
Semi-moist to moist soil in spring/summer (Zone 2-3 or 3); taper off water in late
summer/fall (Zone 2)
Organic mulch
Very easy to grow. Reseeds nicely – will naturalize. Deadhead if you don’t want it
to reseed. Divide clumps about every 3rd year. Cut back dried black stems in fall.
Management:
Propagation: from seed:
easy, in spring
by divisions/plantlets:
very easy in winter/spring.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 5, 11, 8, 13, 14, 20
* CA native plant but not native to Western L.A. county
2/1/11
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