Sisyrinchium striatum
Garden Plant Information

Sisyrinchium striatum

Name

Sisyrinchium striatum (also called pale yellow-eyed grass)

Genus  

Sisyrinchium

Species

striatum

Cultivar/variety

Might be 'Aunt May'

General description

Evergreen clump-forming perennial with upright sword-like leaves and spires of small pale yellow cup shaped flowers. An excellent foil for purple and blue.

Season of interest

Flowers in early to mid-summer.

Key horticultural features

  1. Habit - upright, though the flowering stems sometimes lean. H&S: 50cm-90cm

  2. Stems - upright, grey-green.

  3. Leaves - upright fan of straight sword-like, grey-green leaves.

  4. Flowers - tall stems hold clusters of small, pale yellow flowers. Look more closely and you'll see the fine purple stripes that give the plant its species name (striatum = striped). The centre of the cup-shaped flower is speckled with the same purple.

Cultural details

Aspect

Full sun.

Soil

Well drained, neutral to slightly alkaline. Dislikes winter wet.

Hardiness

Hardy.

Maintenance

Remove spent flower heads if you don't want it to set seed, which it will do freely. Remove old leaves as they become tatty. Dig up and divide large clumps every couple of years.

Propagation

Will set seed and spread naturally, or divide clumps in spring.