Californian blue-eyed grass is a delicate perennial native to the western coast, from Oregon down through northern Baja California, where it thrives in open woodlands and grassy slopes. Despite its common name, this herbaceous plant belongs to the iris family and is unrelated to true grasses, though its thin, narrowly lanceolate leaves create that characteristic grass-like appearance. Growing 6 to 12 inches tall and wide, it produces showy blue flowers from March through May and settles comfortably in USDA Zones 7-8. Hardy and low-maintenance once established, it tolerates drought and shallow, rocky soils, making it a resilient choice for dry gardens and native plant landscapes.
Full Sun
Moderate
7-8
12in H x 12in W
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Moderate
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Sisyrinchium bellum 'Rocky Point' brings genuine native charm to temperate gardens with its modest stature and vivid blue blooms that emerge in early spring. The tufted, grass-like foliage remains attractive even outside the bloom window, and once established, this perennial asks for almost nothing: it handles drought with ease and thrives in the lean, rocky soils that challenge other plants. The 'Rocky Point' selection brings this reliable performer into cultivation with exceptional hardiness.
Californian blue-eyed grass serves as an ornamental flowering perennial, valued in native plant gardens, drought-tolerant landscapes, and naturalized plantings. Its delicate blue flowers and fine foliage make it useful as a border plant, ground cover, or accent in rock gardens and coastal gardens where salt tolerance and low maintenance are valued.
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“Californian blue-eyed grass grows wild across the Pacific coast, naturalized in the open woodlands and riparian areas that define the California landscape and beyond. The species has long been recognized for its ecological role in native plant communities, and the 'Rocky Point' cultivar represents a selected form chosen for garden performance and hardiness in cooler regions than the species typically tolerates alone.”