Sisyrinchium elmeri Plant Care
Sisyrinchium elmeri Greene
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Sisyrinchium elmeri is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae known by the common name Elmer's blue-eyed grass. It is endemic to California, where it is known from many of the mountain ranges from the Klamath Mountains through the Sierra Nevada to the San Bernardino Mountains.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Sisyrinchium elmeri?
Water Sisyrinchium elmeri every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Sisyrinchium elmeri Native To?
What Is the Sisyrinchium elmeri?
Sisyrinchium elmeri (Sisyrinchium elmeri) belongs to the Iridaceae family within the Sisyrinchium genus. Sisyrinchium elmeri is native to California.
Sisyrinchium elmeri displays a clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Sisyrinchium elmeri produces small, star-shaped flowers in shades of blue, purple, or yellow.
Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Sisyrinchium elmeri?
Sisyrinchium elmeri requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Sisyrinchium elmeri Need?
Sisyrinchium elmeri thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Sisyrinchium elmeri Prefer?
Sisyrinchium elmeri grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Sisyrinchium elmeri prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Sisyrinchium elmeri?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Sisyrinchium elmeri to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Sisyrinchium elmeri?
Feed Sisyrinchium elmeri every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Sisyrinchium elmeri?
Divide and repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Sisyrinchium elmeri?
Sisyrinchium elmeri can be propagated through division of rhizomes, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to bermuda blue-eyed grass plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Sisyrinchium elmeri Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Sisyrinchium elmeri, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Sisyrinchium elmeri?
Sisyrinchium elmeri is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, thrips. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Sisyrinchium elmeri Need?
Sisyrinchium elmeri grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Sisyrinchium elmeri is native to California. In cooler regions, grow Sisyrinchium elmeri as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Sisyrinchium elmeri is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Sisyrinchium genus — compare its care with other Sisyrinchium species on PlantoScan.
Sisyrinchium is part of the Iridaceae plant family — browse all Iridaceae genera and species.
Sisyrinchium elmeri thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Sisyrinchium Species
Other Sisyrinchium species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Sisyrinchium elmeri Greene, family Iridaceae (first published in Pittonia 2: 106 (1890)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Sisyrinchium elmeri, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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