Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium sp.) is a short, stiff perennial in the iris family.   Most of the ones spotted in our area are Idaho blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchrum idahoense sp.), but Mountain blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium montanum) is quite similar and may also be found in pockets in the Interior area.   They grow from fibrous roots to as much as 30 cm.    Most of the leaves are basal, linear, and pointed.

In late spring the plant starts to bloom with several blue flowers with yellow eyes, at the ends of short stems.   Colors can vary to light blue, purple, or violet.    After flowering capsules form and black seeds are dispersed later in summer.

Blue-eyed grass is not abundant across the local area, and they can be hard to spot, but I have seen them in flower in the upper grasslands of Lac du Bois (Hanging Valley), Lundbom Grasslands, Hamilton Commonage, and the grasslands hills south of Kamloops.   All photos taken on hikes by the author, shared here in Google Photos album – Blue Eyed Grass (link).

Note – We have propagated blue-eyed grass and have several of these gems in our home garden, one of our favorites.