Blue Eyed Grass
A wonderful ornamental clumping grass Sisyrinchium ‘Devon Skies’ has strap like leaves and very pretty blue flowers. The common name is ‘Blue Eyed Grass, and this is a sterile cultivar, so it will not self seed and is only propagated by division.
The large blue flowers with darker veins and a deeper blue ring surrounding a yellow centre, the flowers appear over a long period in summer, reaching around 15cm in height and forming a clump over time. (flowers can be a little variable in color).
Although this is a native of North America, this is a chance seedling of Sisyrinchium angustafolium found in Devon in the UK, hence the common name.
Position
Excellent in a humus rich well drained soil in the rock garden, or perhaps grow this on in a container. Use ‘Devon Skies’ as a low growing border plant, or for underplanting taller shrubs in the border or in containers.
Also suited as an evergreen addition to the rock garden and as a filler in the perennial border.
Sisyrinchium ‘Devon Skies’ Care
Requires little care, copes well with heat, poor soil and is drought tolerant. Frosts are not a problem. As it is a sterile cultivar, propagation is only by division. Larger clumps can be divided in late winter.
- Plant in early spring or autumn.
- Water in well with a liquid seaweed fertiliser.
- Water through the first summer.
- Fertilise in spring with a general purpose, slow release fertiliser.
- Divide clumps every 3 – 4 years to increase the clump and maintain healthy growth.
Other Species
- Yellow Stone has golden yellow flowers to around 12 cm.
- The cultivar ‘Californian Skies’ reaches around 20cm in height grows well in full sun to a little afternoon shade and has good blue to purple flowers with darker markings.
- S. macounii album – White flowers to 12cm
- S. atlanticum
- S. angustifolium – Blue flowers to 35cm
- S. bermudiana – Reaches around 50 cm in height, flowers over a long period, flowers in blue shades.
- S. striata – Tall growing to 60 cm with cream coloured flowers.
Sisyrinchium ‘Devon Skies’ is available for sale from the following nurseries
412 James Lane, Fern Hill VIC. 3458 - Phone 0419002651
Large range of Rare plants, Climbers, Bulbs, Perennials Fruit Trees, Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. Available both Retail and by Mail Order
www.whitehousenursery.com.au