Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass Plant Care
Sisyrinchium funereum E.P.Bicknell
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Sisyrinchium funereum is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae known by the common names Funeral Mountain blue-eyed grass and Death Valley blue-eyed-grass. It is endemic to the Mojave Desert of the United States, where it is known only from the Funeral Mountains and Death Valley area in eastern California, and the Ash Meadows area just over the border in Nevada.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass?
Water Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass 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 Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass Native To?
What Is the Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass?
Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium funereum) belongs to the Iridaceae family within the Sisyrinchium genus. Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass is native to the Mojave Desert of the United States. Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass is also known as Blue-eyed Grass.
Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass displays a clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass produces small, star-shaped flowers in shades of blue, purple, or yellow.
Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass?
Sisyrinchium funereum 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 Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass Need?
Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass Prefer?
Sisyrinchium funereum grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass?
Feed Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass 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 Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass?
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 Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass?
Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass 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 Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass, 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 Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass?
Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass 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 Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass Need?
Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass is native to the Mojave Desert of the United States. In cooler regions, grow Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass 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.
Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass 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 funereum E.P.Bicknell, family Iridaceae (first published in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 31: 387 (1904)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Death Valley Blue-eyed Grass, 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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