Blue-Eyed Grass as Feature or Edger

While weeding in a community garden last week, I encountered a plant I had written about several years ago, Blue-Eyed Grass. I have not grown it in my home garden. One of its common names is Bermuda Blue-Eyed Grass. After battling common Bermuda (aka wiregrass) in my lawn and flower beds, I was not about to introduce any plant that shared the name or other characteristics. I’ve been keeping a watchful eye on the specimens in the community garden for two years now, and they appear to be well-mannered. While diminutive in size, their impact is powerful. It’s time to reconsider my initial wariness.

Blue-Eyed Grass is Sisyrinchium angustifolium, pronounced sis-ee-RINK-ee-um an-gus-tee-FOH-lee-um. The species name has changed several times, but the genus Sisyrinchium remains consistent. Blue-Eyed Grass is a semi-evergreen, clump-forming native found across most of the eastern half of the country, in zones 4-9. Plants are undemanding. They grow in any texture soil and partial shade to full sun, preferring a consistently moist soil and average fertility. Rich soil or too much fertilizer results in lush leaf growth and few flowers. Keep mulch away from the base of the plant to avoid root rot.

They can be used singly as a specimen or as an edging. When flowering is complete, trim the spent heads to prevent unwanted spread. Blue-Eyed Grass looks at home in rock gardens, cottage gardens, woodland gardens, and sloped gardens. Bees and butterflies love their pollen and nectar, so they work well in pollinator gardens as well.

Mature clumps of Blue-Eyed Grass can reach up to 16 inches, although 12 inches is more common. The blue flowers appear in spring and summer, and are held above the foliage. Like other members of the Iris family, clumps should be divided every year or two to keep them looking healthy. The cultivar ‘Lucerne’ has larger flowers than unnamed varieties.

Sisyrinchium angustifolium, Blue-Eyed Grass, used as a specimen in a community pocket park.

Purple Heart Is An Easy, Colorful Perennial

Tradescantia pallida..

Recent warm weather started the garden-planning process for many of us. If you are seeking a quick-growing,, easy perennial for a splash of violet, consider Purple Heart.

Tradescantia pallida (pronounced trad-es-KAN-tee-uh PAL-lid-duh), commonly called Purple Heart, has striking purple leaves. It is grown for its rich foliage, but it also has delicate, three-petaled pink or purple flowers. It is a popular choice for gardens and flower beds, and can be grown as an annual or perennial depending on the climate, or as a houseplant anywhere.

Purple Heart can reach up to eighteen inches tall and twenty-four inches wide, with a trailing habit. It prefers well-drained soil and partial shade. It will survive in full sun if given occasional irrigation. More sun results in greater color intensity of leaves. Plants are drought-tolerant once established. They are undemanding in soil type or texture.

Propagation of Purple Heart is easy from stem cuttings. Cuttings can be taken in the spring or summer rooted in a mixture of sand and peat moss. For those with no desire to set up a propagation area, fair success can be obtained by taking stem cuttings and inserting them into the soil where the mother plant is growing. Remove any leaves that will be below ground level, and ensure that soil covers a node (where a leaf emerged from the stem). Keep soil damp and at least half the cuttings will strike roots.

Plants are hardy zones 7-11. A hard frost will turn all top growth into mush, which can be removed any time before spring. In the cooler zones, a light mulch (pine needles) will help protect the roots and ensure its return. New growth will emerge as soon as weather warms in the spring. Purple Heart is not particularly susceptible to diseases or pests, including deer. It provides a beautiful contrast to yellow or pink flowers. Its undemanding nature and rapid growth makes it a good choice for new gardeners.

This border of Purple Heart is located outside a church gymnasium in an area that receives full morning sun. It gets no irrigation or care, and it looks great, year after year.