Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Yellow Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium californicum) is a perennial herb that naturally grows in moist environments. It is a member of the Iris family, with blade-like leaves. Yellow star-shaped flowers appear from May through June. It forms small clumps and self-sows in favorable conditions, and does best in full sun with regular watering.


Yellow Eyed Grass is adaptable to many types of soil. On the coast it takes full sun and inland grows in part shade. Yellow Eyed Grass is great for moist meadow gardens, rain gardens, in containers, or borders with adequate irrigation.

Plant type

Perennial herb, Geophyte

Size

8 - 12 in Tall
6 in Wide

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Color

Yellow

Special uses

Containers, Deer resistant, Lawn alternative

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Moderate

Summer irrigation

Max 1x / week once established

Ease of care

Easy

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 30° F

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium, Slow

Soil description

Tolerates sandy or clay soils. Tolerates sodic soil..
Soil PH: 5.0 - 8.0

Propagation

By seed

Sunset Zones

4*, 5*, 6*, 7*, 8, 9, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Site type

Moist places primarily along the coast

Plant communities

Freshwater Marsh, Wetland-Riparian

Glossyleaf Manzanita (Arctostaphylos nummularia), Thrift Seapink (Armeria maritima), Ceanothus species, Giant Chinquapin (Chrysolepis chrysophylla), Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii), Woodland Strawberry (Fragraria vesca), Gowen Cypress (Hesperocyparis goveniana), Monterey Cypress (Hesperocyparis macrocarpa), Alumroot (Heuchera spp.), Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata), Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta), Bishop Pine (Pinus muricata), Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata), Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), and California Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum).