California dreaming

Californian Yellow-eyed-grass (Sisyrinchium californicum)

When we moved in, there were a few small clumps of Californian Yellow-eyed-grass (Sisyrinchium californicum) growing along the edges of the pavement near the front door. These low, grass-like clumps have spread over the years, and now their starry little yellow flowers are sprinkled amongst the nearby paving slabs as well. As its name suggests, this is an introduced species; it's native to the western United States, and was first brought to the UK in 1796. Though perennial, it's short-lived. Fortunately, it spreads easily, both through underground rhizomes and through abundant, small, black seeds. Flowers bloom primarily from May through June (and in smaller numbers through the summer), hosting a nice mix of pollinators before closing around midday each day. The plant generally grows in wetlands and moist grasslands, so it's a bit surprising that it does as well as it does near the house. However, given that it evolved in a region with wet winters and cool summers with abundant cloud and fog, our typical Norfolk weather must suit it perfectly!