Blue Eyed GrassSisyrinchium montanum
a.k.a. Mountain Blue-eyed Grass
Mountain Blue-eyed Grass is found in the northern half of Minnesota. It forms small clumps and produces beautiful violet-blue, star-like flowers. Like other Blue-eyed Grass species it is grass-like in appearance but is actually from the Iris family.
USDA symbol: SIMO2
General Information
| Plant Type | Forb |
|---|---|
| Height | 2 feet |
| Light Exposure | Sun |
| Soil Moisture | Medium |
| Bloom Color | Purple, Blue |
Tolerances
| Flooding / Inundation Tolerance | Moderate |
|---|---|
| General Resilience | 5 |
| Salt Tolerance | None |
| Stress Tolerance | Acidic Conditions, Drought Tolerant, General Disturbance |
Pollinator Value: Medium
| Bloom Months | May to June |
|---|---|
| Pollinator Benefit | Insect Pollinated, Provides Nectar, Supports Generalists |
Project Planning
| Project Type | Rain Garden, Restoration |
|---|---|
| Coefficient of Conservatism | 6 |
| Herbivore Sensitivity | Low |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Rate of Spread | Slow |
| Soil Stabilization | Shallow |
| Vegetative Reproduction | Absent |
Range
| County | Aitkin, Beltrami, Cass, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Douglas, Hennepin, Hubbard, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Lincoln, Marshall, Martin, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Norman, Pine, Pipestone, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, St. Louis, Stearns, Swift, Todd, Wadena, Wright, Yellow Medicine |
|---|---|
| Ecoregion | Driftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains |
| Approximate Eco Province | Eastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands |