Species yellow-eyed grass

yellow-eyed grass

Sisyrinchium californicum

Yellow-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium californicum) is a perennial native to California with clusters of bright yellow star-shaped flowers. It grows rapidly in sunny meadows and other open, dry habitats in the western United States. The grasses feature long, pointed, narrow leaves with small yellow flowers and thin, papery bracts. Cascades of yellow flowers appear throughout the growing season, adding a splash of color to gardens and landscapes. This hardy, drought-tolerant grass is a great option for dry, sunny meadows and low-maintenance gardens. It is attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds, and also makes a great cut flower.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Division,Seed Propagation,Cutting,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

8 - 10

Flowers:

Yellow Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Moderate

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

For optimal plant health, yellow-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium californicum) should be watered regularly, once or twice a week in the warm summer months and less frequently in the winter. When watering your yellow-eyed grass, it's best to thoroughly soak the soil with either a watering can or a garden hose, and then allow the soil to become somewhat dry between watering. To prevent root rot, avoid overwatering, and do not allow the soil to become soggy. Yellow-eyed grass is also somewhat tolerant of drought, and can be watered less often during extended dry spells.

sunlight

Yellow-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium californicum) is highly tolerant of sunlight and does best in full sun. It needs 6 or more hours of direct sunlight exposure per day, preferably not filtered through glass, to thrive and produce the best floral displays. It is worth noting that filtration through glass tends to reduce the intensity of the sunlight which can reduce the vigor and flowering performance of this species. When grown in partial shade conditions, yellow-eyed grass may sometimes struggle for adequate sunlight and can become more susceptible to fungal issues such as powdery mildew.

pruning

Yellow-eyed grass should be pruned once a year in late spring or early summer, after the plant has finished blooming. Prune back the spent flower stems and any damaged or dead foliage to the ground. This will help keep the plant compact and healthy. It can also limit the number of invasive seedlings that may spread around the garden. Re-pot the yellow-eyed grass if needed when pruning and water well after pruning to encourage new growth.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Yellow-eyed grass typically starts flowering in April.

Hardiness Map