Sisyrinchium campestre (Prairie Blue-eyed Grass)
| Also known as: | White-eyed Grass |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Sisyrinchium |
| Family: | Iridaceae (Iris) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | sun; prairies, meadows, along railroads |
| Bloom season: | May - July |
| Plant height: | 4 to 16 inches |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | none |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/sisyrinchium-campestre-8.jpg)
Flowers are ½ to ¾ inch across, pale blue to white with 6 tepals (3 petals and 3 sepals all similar), yellow at the base, with a column of yellow-tipped stamens protruding from the center. Tepals are mostly rounded at the tip with a small, needle-like projection at the very tip. A few flowers are clustered at the top of a stem, the flower stalks enclosed within 2 leaf-like bracts (spathe). The outer spathe is 1 to 2 inches long and about twice as long as the inner spathe. The edges of the outer spathe are typically separate all the way to the base. The spathe color is green to purplish brown.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of stem]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/sisyrinchium-campestre-13.jpg)
Leaves are narrow, toothless, grass-like blades in a basal tuft, each 3 to 10 inches long, or about as long as the flower stems. The flower stems are distinctly winged, about 1/8 inch wide, and smooth along the edges. One or more stems arise from the base.
Fruit:
![[photo of fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/blue/sisyrinchium-campestre-prairie-blue-eyed-grass_0531_115658.jpg)
Fruit is a light to dark brown, globe-like capsule, 1/8 to 1/6 inch in diameter.
Notes:
Prairie Blue-eyed Grass can be distinguished from the other Sisyrinchium species in Minnesota primarily by its pale flowers, and dry, sandy habitat.
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More photos
Prairie Blue-eyed Grass plants
near white flowers
more plants
a cluster of Prairie Blue-eyed GrassPhotos by K. Chayka taken at Long Lake and Rice Creek Regional Parks, Ramsey County, and at Lost Valley SNA, Washington County. Other photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2010-06-12 21:06:02
In bloom 5/16/2010
on: 2011-05-30 21:14:25
Blooming 5/30/11, approx 150 yards SSE of the Granada/45th St entrance.
on: 2011-06-03 16:40:21
Found some of this along a dirt road in Oak Grove, blooming, 6/3/11.
on: 2011-07-01 15:20:44
Surprised to see this in fairly high numbers in a sandy moist area near airport.
on: 2012-04-08 14:32:57
Minnesota River bottom Rd south of Fairfax - Many plants growing in the sand along the edge of the road
on: 2012-04-18 22:56:13
Chicory flowers last just a few hours, then a new bud opens each day. This is not common knowledge, most believing the flower closes at night to open again the next day. Not true. Does the Blue Eyed flower do the same? Yet not mentioned in the descriptions. We have our share and they are a staple.
on: 2015-05-16 21:13:11
Found this today in my small prairie. Just showed up after 5 years without planting it. Very nice surprise.
on: 2017-05-08 18:48:29
Several patches are in bloom on 5/6/2017 on the s-facing remnant prairie slope here. This is a larger amount blooming than I have ever noticed before.
on: 2020-05-26 13:45:55
Are these native to Minnesota? I have two in my front yard that were there when it was still just a very weedy lawn. They're absolutely beautiful and I'm glad I didn't take them out when preparing my garden beds.
on: 2020-06-25 13:39:34
Several patches all blooming May 20-25.
on: 2021-05-20 13:48:17
I saw one clump on May 20 in an area burned on May 7 close to the mowed trail.
on: 2021-05-21 21:44:46
Currently blooming at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center about 1 month post burn
on: 2021-06-03 15:20:38
Seen in Chester Park along sunny XC ski trail 6/2/2021
on: 2022-06-02 13:25:41
Seen in Lac qui Parle state park rocky trail on a hill
on: 2022-06-14 13:34:22
Sign of a very late spring. Several patches now blooming at our lake property in central Cass County. They've been expanding a little bit every year. Naturally occurring not planted.