A Pop of Purple: Western Blue-eyed Grass

Western blue-eyed grass is a California native wildflower.

Its native range extends west of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It can be found outside of California as well, but the western species is restricted to the western part of the United States. There are many different varieties in California, including a “Devon Skies” variety that has a darker purple center.

Western blue-eyed grass is a “clumping” plant, meaning that it will grow from the center and form a mound.

They can grow 4 – 16 inches tall and equally as wide. Their flowers are less than an inch in diameter, and range from blue to purple in color.

The best time to view blooming western blue-eyed grass is April or May.

They can be found in a variety of habitats – ranging from redwood forests to grassy areas. To view these bright flowers, be sure to look for them on a sunny day – their flowers close when it’s cloudy.

Western blue-eyed grass is a perennial plant.

Perennial plants return each year after you plant them, whereas annual plants need to be replanted each year. If you plan on planting blue-eyed grass in your garden, you can count on seeing them return each year.

Cool facts about western blue-eyed grass:

• Blue-eyed grass is not actually a grass – it belongs to the iris family (Iridaceae).
• Blue-eyed grass flowers close up when it’s cloudy.
• Its genus name means “pig snout” in latin – a name derived from foraging pigs digging up the plant.

Resources to learn more:

• Gardening Know How – Gardening with Blue-eyed Grass
• California Native Plant Society – Information on Western Blue-eyed Grass

Author: Taylor Crisologo

Taylor studied biology at Cornell University, where she worked with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on projects ranging from breeding herring gulls off the coast of Maine to dancing lyrebirds in Australia’s Blue Mountains. When she’s not researching great places to experience Bay Area nature, you can find her birding or reading a book at home with her husband and their two indoor cats (Max and Penelope). View all posts by Taylor Crisologo