Iris douglasiana

Beautiful 3" flowers in shades of purple and blue to cream rise on 1-2' stems on a 2 to 4' wide clump which slowly spreads by underground rhizomes. Douglas Iris is native from central California north to Oregon and can take full sun coastally, but needs afternoon shade inland. Tolerates moist to dry sites and seasonal flooding, perfect for rain gardens! The strong fibers of this iris were used traditionally by Native Americans for basketry and rope making. S-PSh/M

Douglas Iris is an herbaceous perennial that grows 1-2' tall and will spread and self sow. It can grow in dry shade under oaks. Other uses include planting in a container, rock gardens, slopes, massing together to form dense clumps. Combine with woodland strawberry. The large dark purple flowers (occasionally white, rarely yellow) are seen late winter - spring. For a tidy look - cut off old flowers in the summer. Native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America. Good for bees. Iris flowers attract insects and birds and provide nectar to hummingbirds. Tribes of Mendocino County used the leaves to wrap babies in to keep them cool during berry-collecting trips and the fibers along the edges of the leaves to make rope for hunting and fishing. The Flowers were used by the Kashaya Pomo for wreathes for the Strawberry Festival. Found in common on bluffs and treeless grassy hillsides. . Communitites located in Mixed Evergreen Forest, Coastal Prairie Between 0 and 3281 feet .

Evergreen, rhizomatous, beardless iris to 2' tall and spreading with leathery, dark green leaves and pale lavender to dark purple flowers in spring. Provide full sun along the coast and partial shade inland with reasonably well-drained soil and moderate to occasional water once established. Summer water will moderate seasonal dormancy. Hardy 0F. Southern Oregon and California.

Blooms: spring-summer, blue-purple, evergreen foliage Zone 6-9. 12", PNW, part shade-sun, moist, well drained.

A totally good evergreen Iris for the garden. This is a dwarf form of a west coast species and makes a circular clump of graceful fans of leaves with lots of medium blue flowers in late spring to early summer. Looks good all the time. Grows well even in bright shade with Hostas.