Yellow-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium californicum)

Yellow Eyed Grass | Sisyrinchium californicum

Bright Yellow Star Shaped Flowers for Pond Margins, Bog Gardens and Wildlife Ponds

Yellow-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium californicum) is a charming marginal pond plant that produces masses of bright yellow star shaped flowers above neat clumps of attractive grey green foliage. Despite its common name, it is not a true grass but a beautiful flowering perennial closely related to irises. Its compact size, cheerful flowers, and easy-going nature make it an excellent choice for pond margins, bog gardens, damp borders, and wildlife friendly planting schemes.

Flowering from June through to August, Yellow Eyed Grass creates a vibrant display of golden yellow blooms that stand proudly above slender, sword shaped leaves. The flowers open throughout the summer months, bringing long lasting colour to pond edges and helping bridge the gap between spring and autumn flowering marginal plants.

Its compact clump forming habit makes it particularly suitable for smaller ponds, container water gardens, and decorative pond margins where larger plants may overwhelm the space. The grey green foliage remains attractive throughout the growing season, adding texture and structure even when the plant is not in flower.

Yellow Eyed Grass thrives in consistently moist soil and shallow pond margins, performing best when planted in damp ground or very shallow water up to 1cm deep. It enjoys full sun but will also tolerate partial shade, making it adaptable to a wide range of garden settings.

One of the greatest benefits of Sisyrinchium californicum is its value to wildlife. The nectar rich flowers attract bees, hoverflies, butterflies, and other pollinating insects throughout the summer months. This helps increase biodiversity around the pond while supporting important pollinator populations.

Although considered a relatively short lived perennial, Yellow Eyed Grass readily self seeds in favourable conditions, often establishing attractive colonies over time. This natural ability to regenerate makes it a reliable addition to wildlife ponds and naturalistic planting schemes.

Its neat growth habit also means it combines beautifully with Water Forget Me Not, Mazus reptans, Brass Buttons, Marsh Marigolds, and other low growing marginal pond plants. The bright yellow flowers provide excellent contrast against blue, purple, and white flowering species, helping create colourful and balanced pond planting displays.

For gardeners seeking a compact, pollinator friendly pond plant that delivers reliable summer colour and natural charm, Yellow Eyed Grass is an outstanding choice.

🇬🇧 UK-grown aquatic plant: Grown at a dedicated aquatic plant nursery in the South of England and carefully prepared for delivery across the UK.

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Key Benefits

• Bright yellow star shaped flowers throughout summer
• Excellent pollinator friendly pond plant
• Compact growth ideal for small ponds
• Attractive grey green foliage
• Suitable for pond margins, bog gardens, and damp borders
• Long flowering season from June to August
• Easy to grow and maintain
• Perfect for wildlife friendly gardens
• Self seeds naturally to form attractive colonies
• Excellent for container ponds and water gardens

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Reasons to Buy

• Cheerful yellow flowers brighten pond edges
• Compact size suitable for all pond types
• Attracts bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects
• Low maintenance and easy to establish
• Excellent companion plant for other marginal pond plants
• Adds colour without becoming invasive

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Care Instructions

• Plant Yellow Eyed Grass in moist soil or very shallow water around pond margins. It performs best in full sun, where flowering is at its strongest, although partial shade is also suitable.
• Allow the soil to remain consistently moist throughout the growing season. Remove spent flowers if desired to keep the plant tidy, although allowing some seed heads to develop will encourage natural self seeding.
• Cut back old foliage during late autumn or early spring before new growth emerges. Divide mature clumps every few years if they become overcrowded.
• This plant is generally trouble free, although young growth may occasionally attract slugs or snails.

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Flowering Period

June to August

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Size and Growing Conditions

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Dispatching Your Pond Plants

Your Yellow-eyed Grass will be carefully packed to protect the foliage and roots during transit.

Orders received by 11am Monday to Wednesday are normally dispatched on the following working day using a next working day courier service. During busy periods, dispatch may occasionally take an extra day.

To avoid plants being held in depots over a weekend, we do not usually dispatch on Fridays. Highlands and Islands orders using a two day service are not normally dispatched on Thursdays.

Available basket sizes:

• Pack of 3 × 9cm Pots
• 1 Litre Basket – usually 11 × 11 × 11cm square; some varieties may be supplied in a 14cm diameter × 10cm round basket
• Pack of 3 × 1 Litre Baskets – each usually 11 × 11 × 11cm square

Planting depth is measured from the top of the aquatic basket to the water surface.

Plants supplied in 9cm pots require potting into suitable aquatic baskets before being placed in the pond.

Finofil baskets are manufactured in the UK from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable. Their fine dual-mesh construction helps retain aquatic soil while allowing water and nutrients to reach the roots. Basket shape may vary slightly depending on the plant and supplier availability.

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Similar pond plants

For another pond-edge planting option, compare Brass Buttons (Cotula coronopifolia) and American Water Plantain (Alisma parviflorum).

Explore more marginal pond plants or browse our complete pond plants range. Need baskets, aquatic soil or planting essentials? Browse our pond plant baskets and aquatic planting supplies.