Ethnobotany for Iris douglasiana

1. * Douglas Iris – Iris douglasiana (EYE-ris doug-LAS-ee-AN-uh)
Family: Iridaceae (Iris Family)
Native to: Western CA, OR & WA. In CA south to Santa Barbara Co.; open, grassy slopes and flats
near coast; bluffs; often within sight of ocean.
Growth characteristics: Perennial from rhizomes mature height: 1-2 ft mature width: 2-3 ft.
Sword or grass-like leaves from base in winter/spring. Dies back in drought, freezing temperatures.
Reproduce by seed or from rhizomes. Leaves and roots are toxic if eaten.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms Mar-May. Flowers usually purple, borne on stalks above leaves.
Horticultural cultivars & hybrids range in color from white, pink, lavender to dark purple. Many
cultivars with colors varying from white to pink and lavender/purple. Very attractive & showy.
Uses in the garden: naturalized areas; in a mixed ground cover; around ponds/pools. Great for
sides of water gardens or vernal meadows. Under trees with light shade or north and east
exposures. Attractive flowers make this a spring favorite in mixed flower beds or in containers.
Sensible substitute for: non-native Iris.
Attracts: pollinators, hummingbirds, birds (eat seeds)
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to partial shade (morning sun or filtered shade best in most gardens)
Soil Any well-drained soil, but prefers light-medium; any pH is fine, including alkali
Water Average; can survive with no summer water
Fertilizer None needed
Other Tolerates maritime conditions
Management: Relatively easy. Can multiply into a sizeable clump, which needs dividing. Other
than that, tolerates less than perfect conditions very well.
Propagation: from seed: collect seed in summer, keep dry. Plant in fall in pots. Germination 2-3
months or longer. By division of rhizomes: Divide in fall/winter after new roots established.
Provide water and some shade until established. Easy.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 5, 7-10, 13, 14, 16, 20, 24 1/19/15
* CA native but not western Los Angeles County © Project SOUND