Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Sisyrinchium elmeri is a species of flowering plant in the iris family known by the common name Elmer's blue-eyed grass. It is endemic to California, where it is known from many of the mountain ranges from the Klamath Mountains through the Sierra Nevada to the San Bernardino Mountains. It grows in moist habitat types such as meadows and bogs. Sisyrinchium elmeri is rhizomatous perennial herb takes a clumpy form, its narrow stems growing up to about 20 to 30 centimeters tall. It is medium green and nonwaxy, and it dries to a dark green or brownish color, but does not turn black. The flat, narrow leaves are grasslike. The flower has six tepals measuring roughly a centimeter long. They are yellow to yellow-orange with dark brown veining. The fruit is a dark brown capsule. Sisyrinchium elmeri is rhizomatous perennial herb takes a clumpy form, its narrow stems growing up to about 20 to 30 centimeters tall. It is medium green and nonwaxy, and it dries to a dark green or brownish color, but does not turn black. The flat, narrow leaves are grasslike. The flower has six tepals measuring roughly a centimeter long. They are yellow to yellow-orange with dark brown veining. The fruit is a dark brown capsule.

Plant type

Perennial herb, Geophyte

Size

8 - 12 in Tall

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Color

Yellow, Orange, Brown, Black

Flowering season

Spring, Summer

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Ease of care

Moderate

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 3, 4*, 5*, 6*, 7*, 14, 15, 16, 17*

Site type

Wet meadows, similar places

Plant communities

Red Fir Forest, Yellow Pine Forest, Wetland-Riparian