Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database


Iris douglasiana (Douglas Iris)

 

Kingdom

 Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom

 Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision

 Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division

 Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class

 Liliopsida – Monocotyledons

Subclass

 Liliidae

Order

 Liliales

Family

 Iridaceae – Iris family

Genus

 Iris L. – iris

Species

 Iris douglasiana Herbert – Douglas iris

A fine evergreen Iris, this plant reaches 1-2’ tall with a 3” flower.

In spring, the flowers range from lavender to violet and are framed by broad leaves.

Douglas Iris is found on dry, grassy slopes and brush lands only between southern Oregon and central California.

However, it is hardy from USDA zones 5-10. It grows well in either sun or shade and with little care will spread to form a 2-4’ clump.

Being easy to grow and extremely long-lived (clumps have been found in the wild that are over 100 years old), the Douglas Iris should be in every native plant garden.

Some sources describe this iris as an aggressive weed as livestock will not graze it– should we be so lucky to have this gorgeous native assert itself in our meadows!!

For a short comparison of northwest native iris, click here.

           
This beautiful image was captured at Tomales Point, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, by Stephen Lea
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