Strict Blue-eyed Grass is a lovely little native ready to charm your socks off with its grass-like foliage and starry blooms. This perky perennial forms tidy clumps of bright green, narrow leaves that masquerade as grass until late spring when slender stems arise gracefully, bearing clusters of violet-blue flowers that positively glow in the garden. Each bloom, a mere 3/4 inch across, sports six tepals surrounding a sunny yellow center – a perfect landing pad for bees and butterflies. Let it self-seed and you'll soon have lovely periwinkle drifts gracing your woodland garden, path edges, or mixed perennial borders for years to come.
Conditions: Full sun to part shade; moist to average soil
Size: 1' tall, 1' spread
Zone: 4-9
Wildlife Value: Flowers attract butterflies, bees, and pollinating flies
Photo: Samantha Nestory