BLUE EYED GRASS Sisyrinchium campestre
Sisyrinchium campestre (prairie blue-eyed grass or white-eyed grass) is a small herbaceous perennial plant in the iris family, native to prairie and meadow in the central United States and in extreme southern Manitoba.
Prairie blue-eyed grass is one of the more drought tolerant species in the genus. It blooms in late spring and early summer. The flowers are pale blue, with yellow centers. The leaves are grass-like, up to 10 inches (25 cm) long, and the flower stem is about as long as or a little longer than the leaves. Plants produce offsets and form a dense clump over time.
Type: Perennial
Height: 10"
Location: Sun or part
Hardiness zones: 3-9
Seeds per pack: 5
Germination: These seeds require extra care and time to germinate. As with many perennials, these seeds benefit from a period of moist cold to help them grow. This is done by giving them a cold 'winter' period (artificial or natural), and then a warming to simulate 'spring', and time to grow! Here's how this can be done:
Obtain a planting container that has holes in the bottom for excess water to drain. Place the seeds just under the surface of your growing medium, and water. Place your container in a cold area (but not freezing, perhaps a refrigerator) for 5-6 weeks. Once the cold period is completed, place the container at room temperature for them to germinate. Be sure to keep the soil moist during this entire germination period. Seedlings will sprout a few weeks, or occasionally several months, after the warming period.
