In The Garden: Blue-eyed grass is little but cute
Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) is a herbaceous perennial grass native to South Florida and the eastern United States, all the way up to Quebec and as far west as Texas. The native grows naturally in meadows, damp fields, open woods, moist pinelands, swamp edges and grassy roadsides. The small ornamental grass produces star-shaped flowers, rising above the delicate grass-like clumps. The blue flowers appear in spring and have a yellow center.
The native grass self-seeds and can be divided after the bloom season every two to three years using a sharp-edged tool to cut the clumps into smaller pieces. Pieces should be planted in a moist location until roots are able to develop. If left alone, individual plants eventually become at least 1-foot wide, but never taller than 6 inches. Use this plant along walkways, edges of planting beds and in mass.
The native grass is also a wildlife attractor, attracting bees and other pollinators to its blue flowers. Like many other native Florida species, Native Americans valued the plant for its medicinal value and used the roots of the plant for treatment of stomachaches, and various other ailments. The blue-eyed grass is little but cute and may be just the interesting piece you need for your garden.
In The Garden is a joint effort by all at the local garden center, at 3889 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel. For more information, contact 239-395-5859 or visit www.facebook.com/rswalshinthegarden.