Sisyrinchium
angustifolium
blue-eyed grass
iridaceaeTiny blue flowers with yellow throats;
grasslike leaves
10–12 in. high; 8–12 in. wide
Full sun
Blooms May–June
Zones 3–8
pruning Deadheading old floweringstems doesn’t seem to prolong bloom,
and the flowers melt away nicely when
finished. Shear plants back by half
after all flowering is done and before
seed set to keep foliage fresh and to
prevent self-seeding. Do not prune
again for the winter. Prune as needed
in the spring.
other maintenance Plants
require moist yet well-draining soil for
best performance. May require
frequent division (every 1–3 years) to
maintain vigor; divide after flowering.Solidago hybrids
goldenrod
compoSitaeYellow plumes; green leaves
1–5 ft. high; 1–3 ft. wide
Full sun
Blooms July–October
Zones 3–8
pruning When goldenrods are
grown in a border situation, rather
than in a wild setting, they may benefit
from the following pruning. Taller
growing forms develop a better habit
when cut back by half in early June,
which reduces their height and creates
more compact growth that doesn’t
require staking. Similar cutting back
can also delay flowering on early
bloomers. Another method that can be
used with goldenrod is to pinch plants
in May. Pinching will not reduce the
plant’s height as dramatically as will
cutting back, but it creates more
heavily branched growth, which may
be desirable for shorter forms. Pinch-
ing in May usually delays the bloom of
July-flowering forms into August,
when flowering may be preferable.
Early bloomers may get tatty by late
summer and so can be cut down to the
base if needed. Goldenrods often
reseed; although plants can provide
interest over the winter, cutting down
the stems after flowering can prevent
unwanted offspring.
other maintenance Goldenrods
are tolerant of a variety of soil condi-
tions, except extremes. Avoid overly
rich soil, which contributes to lankySisyrinchium angustifolium