Sisyrinchium bellum
Western blue-eyed-grass
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Iridaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Sisyrinchium bellum (Western blue-eyed-grass) is a native California herb in the Iridaceae family, recognized by blue flowers, leaf-bearing nodes, and flower size.
Western blue-eyed-grass is a California native perennial found in western California in open, moist grassy areas and woodlands at elevations below 2,400 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces blue-purple to violet flowers occasionally fading to pale blue or white, with delicate blossoms around 10 to 17 millimeters long. Growing in tufted clusters with slender stems up to 64 centimeters tall and 1.5 to 5.3 millimeters wide, it forms dense, graceful clumps. Its narrow leaves emerge from a single leaf-bearing node, creating a distinctive grass-like appearance with translucent bracts that have uniquely shaped margins. The flower tips are truncate to notched, giving these delicate blossoms an elegant, softly rounded profile.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; distinguished by blue flowers, leaf-bearing nodes, and flower size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Open, generally moist, grassy areas, woodland
Elevation: < 2400 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Lassen, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Riverside, Ventura, Orange, Del Norte, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Marin, Butte, Plumas, Siskiyou, Napa, Alameda, San Joaquin, Colusa, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Sonoma, San Mateo, Tuolumne, Humboldt, Placer, Madera, Shasta, Trinity, San Francisco, Mendocino, Santa Cruz, Mariposa, Kern, San Benito, Contra Costa, Tulare, Inyo, El Dorado, Nevada, Solano, Fresno, Lake, Tehama, Yuba, Yolo, Modoc, Amador, Mono, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Sierra
Outside California: to Oregon, Mexico
Bloom period
Sisyrinchium bellum blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Erodium: Sisyrinchium has iris-like flowers with 6 equal petals; Erodium has 5-petaled geranium flowers.; vs Dipterostemon: Sisyrinchium has flattened winged stems; Dipterostemon has round stems and lily-like flowers.; vs Solanum: Sisyrinchium has 6 petals and grass-like leaves; Solanum has 5 petals and broad leaves.; vs Iris: Sisyrinchium has tiny flowers (<18mm) in clusters; Iris has large showy flowers with distinctive falls.; vs Romulea: Sisyrinchium has flattened winged stems; Romulea has round or 4-angled grooved stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sisyrinchium bellum native to California?
Yes. Sisyrinchium bellum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sisyrinchium bellum bloom?
Sisyrinchium bellum blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Sisyrinchium bellum grow?
Sisyrinchium bellum occurs in San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Lassen, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Riverside, Ventura, Orange and other counties, at elevations of < 2400 m.
What plant family does Sisyrinchium bellum belong to?
Sisyrinchium bellum is in the Iridaceae family, genus Sisyrinchium.
What habitat does Sisyrinchium bellum grow in?
Sisyrinchium bellum grows in Common. Open, generally moist, grassy areas, woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.