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Iridaceae
Grass Widow
Olsynium douglasii
Early spring hope.
- Family
- Iridaceae
- Genus
- Olsynium
- Native to
- Western North America
- Bloom season
- Spring
- Type
- perennial herb
- Height
- 0.5-1 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun to part shade
- Soil
- rocky, well-drained
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 5-8
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- One of the earliest wildflowers to bloom in the Pacific Northwest, often appearing in February.
- The common name 'grass widow' may refer to the grassy meadows where it grows alone in early spring.
- It was named for Scottish botanist David Douglas, famous for discovering the Douglas fir.
- The plant was formerly classified as Sisyrinchium douglasii and is closely related to blue-eyed grasses.
- Indigenous peoples of the Columbia Plateau harvested the small bulbs as a food source.
Color meanings
0
anticipation
1
solitude