Sisyrinchium hitchcockii

Hitchcock's blue-eyed-grass

Family: Iridaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

Hitchcock's blue-eyed-grass is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in the northern California Coast Ranges in grassy, vernally moist areas at elevations of 200 to 300 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces purple flowers with darker bases, delicately arranged with translucent bract margins. Growing with elongate rhizomes and stems over 50 centimeters tall, it features an unusual growth pattern with few leaf-bearing nodes. Its leaves are characteristic of the blue-eyed-grass genus, emerging from the base of the slender stem. This distinctive species represents a rare and localized population in the Cape Ridge area, highlighting its unique botanical significance.

Habitat: Grassy, vernally moist areas

Bloom period: May-Jun

Elevation: 200-300 m

Bioregions: NCo (Cape Ridge area)

California counties: Humboldt

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.