Sisyrinchium striatum
Sisyrinchium striatum, a hardy perennial with evergreen foliage. Perhaps you know it well, but its new to me.
Before the flowers started to develop, I was convinced this plant was a form of Iris.
*** In our garden ***
Soon after we arrived in Cheshire, in the front and back garden I spotted quite a few of these plants with the evergreen leaves.
As I say, I was convinced we were in for a treat, giving us a show of Iris blooms in the Summer ahead.
Come late May, it was evident that once again, I was wrong.
The leaves may well remind you of Iris but as you can see, the pale creamy yellow flowers couldn’t be more different
In a sunny position in our South facing front garden the blooms lasted from late May, persisting in to the second week of August.
The one plant which actually performed best of all, was the one which I potted up, and was in a position that didn’t get quite so much sunshine at the bottom of the back garden.
*** Plant description ***
Sisyrinchium striatum, with its sword shaped evergreen (grey/green) leaves, and clusters of small creamy yellow flowers, is quite an eye catcher, in perhaps an understated manner.
I mean, they don’t shout out at you, but as the weeks go in its easy to become, sort of attached to this little beauty.
Flowers for a long period, late May until early August, at times when the weather turns miserable for a day or two, its easy to think its all over when you see the blooms turning brown. The sun comes out again,weather turns warmer, and the plant gets a new lease of life.
Sisyrinchium striatum from South America, grows to a height of about 60cm/2ft, perhaps a little taller.
*** Hardiness *** Fully hardy
*** Position *** Full sun/partial shade
*** Soil *** Free draining, not too heavy
*** Flowering *** Late May to early August
*** Propagate *** Divide in Spring every two/three years
*** Common name *** Aunt May
*** Sisyrinchium ***
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The village in Cheshire where we now live, at one time was very small with a population of a couple of hundred residents.
In the 1980s, housebuilding got under-way, and by 2014 the population reached over five thousand.
The old part of the village still has that old world feel, whilst the new developments have the typical character of the period in which they were built.
The village, to a certain extent has everything that you would expect regarding health care,schooling, pubs and shops,
A large area of land was taken over by one of the supermarket chains last year, I felt sorry for the local co-operative store which had served the community for decades.
However it seems these multi’s have been experiencing lower profits, and apparently our new store is on hold.
Well anyway, I had been saying to my eleven year old grandson that the biggest disappointment with living here was, that there was no park for the residents to stroll around or the children to play in.
He soon put me right, informing me that an area of land was currently being developed into a park. Further investigation proved that this was certainly in progress and seating areas and paths had been completed. Emphasis was on wildlife and flower meadows and not exactly a cultivated park, which was fine.
During the school Summer holidays, my grandson informed me that he knew where this park was, and we could have a walk there, not far he said, probably less than a couple of miles away.
I was fine with this, just getting into my new found pastime of walking, so off we went on what happened to be the hottest day of the year.
We called in at the old village first for some refreshments, which happened to be on the way.
Eventually we reached this country path, which was in a very picturesque situation. We walked past fields and woodland areas, crossed a small bridge over a river, children were playing, jumping off the bridge to the river below.
We carried on walking and I thought it was time I asked if we were near the park, ** I think this is the park he said.
Well it seems like we just ended up having a nice walk in the countryside.
Apparently, this year at some time we are going to find the real thing.
If you happen to leave a comment I will be sure to visit your site and do the same
© 2015, Alistair. All rights reserved.
Park or no park, looks like you are getting out and about in your new neighbourhood Alistair. Nothing like exploring and finding your own way around.
I was given a couple of pieces of your aforementioned Sisyrinchium striatum from a gardening friend last year after admiring it in her garden. Her comments….take as much as you want, it’s a weed here but easily removed if it gets out of hand. I’d be interested to know how yours is looking now. The ones here are black and I don’t know if that’s the frost or normal behavior for them.
Hi Angie
The Sisyrinchium are still looking healthy here. I guess having so many of them in the garden suggests it does grow like a weed. I have a feeling that further north than yourself, in Aberdeen, they are not quite so hardy.
Hi Alistair, I grew Sisyrinchium striatum until a few years ago, in fact probably from the same source as yours, and found it to be a really nice tidy plant, unfortunately I think that it does appreciate the sun and mine died out under encroaching shade which was my mistake. It is a member of the Iris family as I am sure you realised and I currently have the small Sisyrinchium californicum (Brachypus Group)from seed but this species, although pretty, can be quite invasive as it is hardier than you would expect.
Thanks Rick, we also have the Sisyrinchium californicum, quite a neat little thing, I will keep my eye on it.
It’s lovely to have an area to walk to, weather it looks like a park or not, even better that your grandson was the one taking the initiative 🙂
Sisyrinchium striatum is new to me, looks like a lovely plant, but as Rick has commented it needs sun, do you grow yours in full or part sun? My full sun area is small and I have a queue of plants that would like to live there….
Thanks Helene, although I state in the description that Sisyrinchium striatum flowers in sun or part shade, I dont mention the exact position of ours in the garden. Some of them are in the sunny south facing garden and others are in the back garden which is North facing, mind you, they are at the very bottom of the garden away from the house, so you could say they are in a semi shaded spot. Off to do a little editing on my post. (I like this blogging thing)
Well, that’s too bad you didn’t find the park, but it does look like a lovely place to walk anyway! I hadn’t seen Sisyrinchium striatum before. That’s nice it has such a long flowering period. As pretty as irises are, so many have just a short little bloom period (at least they did down south – I’m hoping the blooms will last longer up here in my new garden.)
Indie, I generally have been put off Iris because of the very short flowering period. Mind you, I am tempted to have another go.
I understand why you thought the Sisyrinchium was an iris, Alistair. I would have made the same mistake — it is new to me. You live in a beautiful area! I would love to take that walk, park or no park. P. x
Always new stuff to learn in gardening Pam.
Hi Alastair, the village sounds like a great place to live, and I reckon a walk in the countryside is even better than a park. It must be lovely to be near your children and grandchildren. As for the Sisyrichium, I love it in theory, but it wasn’t happy in my garden and didn’t flower and didn’t fit in, so it was a case of : off with your head ! (and roots)
Hi Sue, it really is good to be near our family again. As for plants that dont thrive in the garden. I have seen me persevere for years in the hope of improvement, more ruthless these days.
I now regret past ruthlessnesses – especially during a hot summer when un-established plants are struggling to survive.
Hello Alistair, I would have guessed it as a form of gladiolus, just not as blowsy and loud, much more subtle and understated. The countryside surrounding you is beautiful. We haven’t managed to do as much exploring of our local area but from driving around we’re surrounded by trees, woodlands and forest. We have to go out some way before we get into open countryside.
Hi Sunil, seems to be a plant not quite as commonly grown as I expected.
How wonderful that he thought the countryside was a park!! And how lucky to inherit sisyrinchium striatum, I discovered it through a neighbour when we moved here, having fallen in love with its subtle beauty, and it is definitely a plant targeted for the front garden. Good to have that long flowering period confirmed.
It is pretty cute Janet, Mind you I suspect he was starting to doubt where the park was and thought to himself, I know a place that looks pretty good anyway. Ah you have the sisyrinchium, hope it does as well for you.
From the pictures – how could a visit to a park have been better than a walk like this?
To be honest Esther, I agree with you, just trying to make a story of it.
I’d have found that walk rewarding, for the stone arched railway bridge.
In our new garden I’m finding deep orange flowers – Montbretia?
The stone bridge sets off the landscape nicely. Montbretia or Crocosmia, I like very much, can fairly spread though.
You really live in a beautiful part of your country. I love the pastoral views. Nice plant too.
I fun walk in the countryside with your grandson, what could be better? I may be wrong but I have seen the USDA planting zones used in the UK. What zone are you?
We are in zone 9 Carolyn, but it really doesnt have the same significance as the usda. We experience a generally moderate climate.
I guess you are in zone 9 for winter lows, but your summer highs would be much lower than a typical US zone 9 climate. Snowdrops do not do that well in zone 9 in the US, I am not even sure if they grow at all there. I thought it was because the winters weren’t cold enough, but it must be because of the summer temperatures. Zone 9 must be cold enough in the winter for snowdrops to bloom where you are. Would you agree?
Got it exactly Carolyn, the so called zones here do not reflect those in the USA. People generally don’t take any heed of it, for instance, snowdrops grow well in the very south of the country as well as the far north of Scotland.
Your countryside is beautiful, Alistair! Just choose a cooler day next time, he-he! Last May, I walked to Sissinghurst castle all by myself from a railroad station in a small town. It was a long but such pleasant walk. Your pictures reminded me of it.
As for the plant, I do love tall plants with sword-shaped leaves.
Tatyana, I am actually hoping for a Summer like last year.
I am completely unfamiliar with Sisyrinchium striatum and probably would have expected some sort of iris as well. Good for you to get out there and walk! I am sure it will be good for your health. Isn’t it nice that you are able to spend some time with your grandson. I wish my son had had more of a chance to know his grandparents on both sides when he was a boy, but my husband and I both had parents that lived in a different province.
It is good to be now living near close family relatives.
Certainly a lovely walk though in the country. I have never seen this flower and it does remind me of an iris or gladiola. Love the color too. If the frigid bitter cold would break I would love to get out for a walk…getting a bit stir crazy.
We had a fair bit of snow here yesterday Donna, rained and turned milder during the night, so its gone already.
I grow those plants and they self seed too Alistair. I find that over a couple of years the main plant dies away but there are always plenty of offspring around the garden and hence their position in the garden seems to move over the course of a few years in the border.
Hi Rosie, it does explain why there are so many of these plants in the garden.
I think a walk in the countryside is the best type of park activity! With so much natural beauty, the park should be wonderful, when it is done. By the way, i also would have thought those were irises!
Alistair,
Your photos are gorgeous. I feel as though I took this walk myself. Thank you so much for sharing, I love your photography.
My sisyrinchium is in partial shade and flowers well, we live in the SE so warmer climate!!! When it’s finished flowering the whole plant flops outwards, the leaves spread in a circle and lay lost in the ground with the centre of the plant exposed. What do I do? Tie it up, cut it back or leave it. Some of the brown leaves I just remove but the rest of the leaves are still green. Advice greatly appreciated thx
Heather, The sisyrinchium does not behave in the manner you describe, here in Cheshire. Some leaves turn black, I just cut them off at the base. Usually when a plant behaves in the manner you describe its because of a shortage of water. You could try giving a bit of support but dont hesitate to cut off the brown or black leaves.
Do you cut back flowering stems when flowers have turned black and plant still thriving?
When all the flowers have died back its time to cut down those stems. Leave the rest of the foliage.