Blue-Eyed Grass is a graceful and fetching herbaceous perennial in the Iris family which resembles a small bunch grass — until it flowers. Blue, 6-parted, with pointed tepals (petals and sepals) with golden centers, the distinctly not-grassy flowers are held on flattened, branched flower stalks just a bit above the straplike leaves. A small proportion, however, appear white. In nature it is found in meadows and on sunny roadsides in Eastern North America. A good early-season pollinator plant, Blue-Eyed Grass can be used to advantage along pathways, in borders, in rock gardens, and woodland meadows. It tolerates light shade, but full sun supports the most abundant flowering. It also tolerates some drought, but it prefers moist, well drained relatively lean soil and only shallow mulching. It is not a long lived perennial, but provides us with root sprouts to continue its delightful presence in the garden.
