Sisyrinchium idahoense var. idahoense
Idaho blue eyed grass
Photo: parent species Sisyrinchium idahoense · (c) Cameron Christopher Dunn, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Iridaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Sisyrinchium idahoense var. idahoense (Idaho blue eyed grass) is a native California herb in the Iridaceae family, recognized by large flowers and bract fusion.
Idaho blue eyed grass is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, and North Coast Ranges in open, moist, grassy places at elevations of 100 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces delicate blue to purple flowers with yellow centers, approximately 13 to 17 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it has distinctive fan-like leaf clusters with margins edged in tiny teeth. Its narrow, grass-like leaves grow in flat, sword-shaped clusters emerging from a central point. The flowers bloom in small clusters, creating delicate blue-purple patterns across grassy meadows and open woodland areas.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; distinguished by large flowers and bract fusion
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Open, moist, grassy places
Elevation: 100-2800 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, northwestern Wyoming
Bloom period
Sisyrinchium idahoense var. idahoense blooms Jun-Aug.
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 idahoense var. idahoense native to California?
Yes. Sisyrinchium idahoense var. idahoense is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sisyrinchium idahoense var. idahoense bloom?
Sisyrinchium idahoense var. idahoense blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Sisyrinchium idahoense var. idahoense belong to?
Sisyrinchium idahoense var. idahoense is in the Iridaceae family, genus Sisyrinchium.
What habitat does Sisyrinchium idahoense var. idahoense grow in?
Sisyrinchium idahoense var. idahoense grows in Common. Open, moist, grassy places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.