Stiff Blue-Eyed Grass

Sisyrinchium demissum

Native to:
Mexico, United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Iridaceae
Genus:
Sisyrinchium
Species:
Sisyrinchium demissum
USDA Symbol:
SIDE4

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
20 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
apr,may,jun,jul,aug
Bloom Colors:
blue, violet, purple

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from rhizomes after fire; often found in fire-maintained grasslands and open pine woodlands.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
moist, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
good drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers habitats like meadows and stream banks

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
14–42 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate best with cold stratification followed by warm conditions. Light may aid germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI