Sisyrinchium californicum

Perennial of the Iridaceae family, native to the west coast of North America, from California to Oregon. It naturally grows in wet meadows, coastal marshes, stream banks, and open areas with constantly cool to moist soil, generally in lowland or low altitude.

It forms small upright clumps of linear, flattened, glaucous to bluish-green leaves, reminiscent of miniature iris foliage, 20 to 40 cm tall. The flowering stems, characteristically winged and flattened as in all sisyrinchiums, bear flowers with six spreading tepals of a bright and clear yellow, veined with brown-purple at their base, creating a radiating effect from the center. This detail of dark veining on a bright yellow background is one of the immediately observable distinctive traits of the species.

In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from May to July. In cultivation under our climates, it generally blooms from May to June.

It is cultivated in full sun to partial shade, in cool to moist soil, without summer desiccation. It is suitable for cool rock gardens, pond edges, and wet prairie gardens.