Pale yellow-eyed grass

Pale yellow-eyed grass: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Compact clump of fans, about 60 cm tall (flower spikes) and 30 cm wide; the foliage itself is 30–50 cm.

Foliage

Stiff, sword-shaped, grey-green, in a flat fan like an iris; evergreen. Cream-striped in ‘Aunt May’.

Flower

Small stars about 2 cm across in whorls along a stiff spike, creamy yellow with purple-brown stripes on the back, from June to July.

Seed

Brown, rounded seed capsules that stay long after flowering and self-sow readily.

Roots

Fibrous and shallow; the plant slowly forms a denser clump.

Flowering: June–July · Plants: March–May and September · Pruning: March and August

Why grow it?

• Evergreen fans of leaves that give the border structure all year.
• Creamy-yellow flower spikes in June and July, striped on the back, that attract bees.
• Tolerates drought and poor soil in a sunny, free-draining spot.
• Little work: a single tidy-up a year is enough.
• Self-sows easily in gravel and between paving, giving you new plants for free.

Pale yellow-eyed grass: where does it grow best?

• Full sun is ideal; in half shade it flowers less.
• Well-drained soil: sand or loam, acid to chalky. It also tolerates poor soil and gravel.
• Dry to normally moist; heavy, wet soil in winter causes rot.
• Plant 30–40 cm apart, at the back of a sunny border or in a gravel bed.
• In a cold, open garden, best in a sheltered spot, against a wall or near a building.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Dry or normal

Size

0.6 m tall, 0.3 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -15 °C)

Goes well with

• Lavender: Purple spikes and grey-green foliage for the same sunny, free-draining spot.
• Sage: Blue-purple spikes that contrast nicely with the creamy flowers.
• Yarrow: Flat flower heads and fine foliage in the same sunny border.
• Cranesbill: A low, flowering foreground that covers the base of the fans.

Pale yellow-eyed grass: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May and September.

1. Plant in March–May or in September, when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged.
2. Choose a sunny spot and open up heavy soil with sand or grit; compost is fine, fresh manure is not.
3. Set the fan at the same depth as in the pot and do not bury the leaf base too deep.
4. Space plants 30–40 cm apart and water thoroughly once.
5. Spread a thin layer of grit or compost around the plant, keeping the leaf base clear.

Care

Water

Rarely needed once established; water at the base only in prolonged drought.

Feeding

Little or none: a little compost in spring is enough.

Tidying

In spring, pull blackened or dead leaves out of the fan. A firm tug on the leaf does it.

Spent flowers

Cut off the spikes before they self-sow, or leave them if you want new plants.

Seedlings

Pull out or transplant surplus seedlings in spring.

Tip: In spring pull blackened leaves out of the fan and cut off spent spikes before they self-sow: the clump stays tidy and you avoid unexpected seedlings in gravel or paving.

Pale yellow-eyed grass: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March and August.

When: Hardly any pruning is needed: in March tidy dead leaves, and in August cut off spent spikes.

How:

• In March pull out blackened or dead leaves.
• In August cut spent spikes down to the leaf fan if you do not want the plant to self-sow.
• If the clump becomes too tall or ragged, do not cut live leaves: remove only what is dead.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In March–April or September, lift the clump, divide it into pieces with roots and leaf fans and replant straight away. Dividing every 3–4 years keeps the clump young.

Seed

The seed can be sown in spring, outdoors or indoors, thinly covered. Self-sown seedlings can also be transplanted in spring.

Pale yellow-eyed grass: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −15 °C: protect young plants.

• Hardy to about −15 °C: in Belgium it usually survives winter, but severe frost can damage the leaves.
• A thin layer of dry leaves or compost around the base helps in cold winters.
• Wet is more dangerous than frost: ensure good drainage, especially in a pot.

Diseases and pests

• Black leaves: The oldest leaves die and turn black; this is normal. Pull them out of the fan in spring.
• Rot: The leaf base turns soft and brown on wet soil. Improve drainage with grit or move the plant to a drier spot.
• Slugs: They sometimes eat the young leaves in spring. Collect them in the evening or lay a plank to trap them.
• Self-seeding: The plant self-sows readily, especially in gravel. Cut off spent spikes or pull out seedlings.

Through the year

• March: Pull out black leaves. Plant or divide.
• April: Plant. Watch for slugs.
• May: Plant. Water in dry weather.
• June: Flowering begins.
• July: Flowering. Seed capsules form.
• August: Cut off spent spikes, or leave a few for seed.
• September: Plant or divide.
• October: Tidy up. Move self-sown seedlings.
• December: Rest. The evergreen foliage stays in place.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The species name striatum is Latin for striped and refers to the purple-brown stripes on the back of the flowers.
• Despite its grass-like foliage, Sisyrinchium belongs to the iris family (Iridaceae).
• Each flower is open only briefly, but the spike flowers for weeks because new buds keep opening.