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Iris douglasiana (Douglas Iris) - A vigorous growing native plant that forms 18 inch tall by 36 inch or more wide clumps of arching, evergreen strap shaped leaves. The lavender-blue to near white flowers appear in spring on 1 to 2 foot tall branched or unbranched stems. Our form is entirely pale blue.
Plant in full sun to light shade on the coast and light shade inland with occasional water. It is cold hardy to <15 degrees F. A great plant for the meadow or accompanying as a groundcover native or other mediterranean climate plants.
Iris douglasiana has an extensive natural range along the coast from Santa Barbara to Oregon. The genus Iris gets its name from the Greek goddess Iris, who was goddess of the rainbow. In Greek mythology, Hera, who was Queen of Olympia, was impressed by Iris' purity and honored her with a flower that bloomed with all of the colors in her robe and the specific epithet was named for David Douglas who collected it around 1830 in Monterey County. It is one of the parents of many of the Pacific Coast Iris cultivars.
The information about Iris douglasiana displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
