Sisyrinchium angustifolium 'Lucerne' (Blue-eyed Grass) Unity Grown
Sisyrinchium angustifolium 'Lucerne' is a variety of blue-eyed Grass, a very low-growing perennial wildflower typically growing to a mature size of less than a foot tall. Noted for its ornamental display and pollinator value, 'Lucerne' blue-eyed grass first produces soft, narrow, grass-like leaves, followed by striking blue-purple flowers with a golden-yellow center through the late spring and early summer.
Since blue-eyed grass is native to much of the eastern US, where it grows as groundcover in open forests and meadows, Sisyrinchium angustifolium is no stranger to a variety of environmental conditions, and will thrive in poor sandy soils, drought, and in less harsh conditions too. The 'Lucerne' cultivar (named for where it was developed and refined in Switzerland), was bred for compact growth and a higher density of larger, showier, flowers than its parent species. It is also reportedly more cold-hardy and less prone to self-seeding, making it an excellent choice for small, cramped garden spaces and container gardening.