Blue Eyed Grass | Sisyrinchium bellum - Benton Soil And Water Conservation District

Blue Eyed Grass | Sisyrinchium bellum

A lush green field with purple flowers near a body of water in the background.

The image features delicate purple flower buds on slender green stems, set against a blurred green background.

Photo Credit: 0405690 Blue-eyed Grass [Sisyrinchium bellum]. Grants Pass Fish Hatchery Park, OR. © Mark Turner

A delicate purple flower with yellow at its center, surrounded by green foliage and buds.

Photo Credit: 0504890 Blue-eyed Grass blossom detail [Sisyrinchium bellum]. Douglas Co. Jim Cr. Rd., OR. © Mark Turner

Like a miniature iris with flowers all shades of blue, purple-blue, or sometimes white. Stems branched, flat with flat fans of leaves attached equal or nearly equal the length of flower stem, small point at the tip of petal. Tuft of upright leaves and stems. Flowering stems with pair of bracts near top, flowers extended above. Grows in moist meadows, woodlands below 8000 ft.

Plant Details

Habitats	Upland Prairie and Savanna, Shallow Marsh, Wet Prairie
Mature Height	4"-16"
Shade Preference
Soil Tolerance	Moderately moist, but will tolerate summer dryness
Special Uses	Deer resistant, Drought tolerant

A close-up of a bee collecting nectar from delicate pink flowers, showcasing nature's pollination process.

Native Plant Database

We have a large searchable database of plants that are native to the Willamette Valley and other parts of Benton County. View images and filter the list by plant characteristics

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Upland Prairie and Savanna

Upland prairies or open grasslands are among the most threatened ecosystems in Oregon. Historically, they occurred across the Willamette Valley and are vegetated by perennial grasses and annual or…

A marshy landscape with tall grasses, a few scattered tree stumps, and a dense forest in the background.

Shallow Marsh

Marshes are seasonally or continually flooded and occur in depressions, around lakes or ponds and along slow-flowing streams. Shallow marshes support dominant herbaceous vegetation which is rooted in…

Wet Prairie

Wet prairies were once a common habitat in the floodplain of the Willamette River. These habitats occur on poorly drained clay soils or shallow soils above bedrock. Seasonal flooding creates anaerobic…