Sisyrinchium californicum

Habit: Sisyrinchium californicum is a small, clump-forming herbaceous perennial with grayish green leaves. Being part of the iris family, it has the characteristic flattened, grass-like leaves. It spreads naturally through underground rhizomes, as well as reseeding itself.  Two to seven petite, star-shaped flowers bloom at the tips of unbranched flower stalks, slightly above the foliage. Flowers have bright yellow tepals with dark purple veins apparent on the undersides, each blossom only lasting one day, but quickly followed by more. Fruit is an ovoid capsule filled with black seeds. Blooms from May into summer.

Ecology: found in moist coastal areas from British Columbia south through much of California, prefers it’s feet to be wet and grows in moist meadows, wetlands, pond edges, and bogs up to elevations of 2000 ft (600 m).

Growing Conditions: full sun to partial shade in moist to wet soil.

Evergreen in mild climates or in the warmer winters of the Willamette Valley.