PBSWiki - Pacific Coast Irises

Pacific Coast irises are found in the western United States, mostly Oregon and California, but also Washington. These are a subgrouping of Beardless Irises and grow from rhizomes. Most of them are evergreen and since they are native to areas with wet winters and dry summers and moderate temperatures. They flower in the spring and seem to appreciate occasional summer water, especially in warmer summer areas. They can be challenging to divide and transplant and this is best done in the wet winter months. There have been many hybrids between the various species and these are often sold as Pacific Coast hybrids with cultivar names. Pictures of some of these hybrids will be found below the species on this page.

See related PBS iris wiki pages:
Aril Irises - Belamcanda - Beardless Irises - Crested Irises - Garden Bearded Irises - Hermodactylus - Iris index - Juno Irises - Reticulata Irises -- Spanish Irises

Iris douglasiana is a native of California and Oregon growing on the edge of coastal forests and on bluffs and prairies overlooking the sea. Flower color ranges from blue to violet to cream and blooming time from late winter into late spring. The first two pictures below were taken at Manchester State Beach in April 2003 and the third one is garden grown. In the garden I have found that cutting all the leaves back to the ground in early fall every couple of years improves my plants visually as old leaves can sometimes be unattractive. Photos by Bob Rutemoeller.

Iris innominata is found in California in Del Norte County and also in Oregon. It has narrow leaves and showy flowers in yellow or purple. It does very well in shady spots or rock gardens. Photos by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner.

Iris macrosiphon is found in open woods and has very narrow leaves taller than the flowers and colors of pale purple, pale yellow to white, apricot or blue or blue-purple. The first one was grown from seed and photographed by Bob Rutemoeller. It took a number of years before first flowering. The second one photographed by Mary Sue Ittner was growing along the road near Table Mountain in Butte County, California.

Iris macrosiphon 'Mt. Madonna' - just recently arrived in Riverside, CA. The species is native to California and Oregon. Purchased about to bloom from the UCI winter bulb/plant sale. Photo by Jennifer Hildebrand.

Iris munzii is found in blue oak woodlands with a thick understory of annual grass. They are listed as rare threatened or endangered by the California native plant society. The largest of the pacific coast Irises, these are tall, straight, and stately plants. The flowers are pale blue to lavender to purple. Munzi's Iris is endemic to the southern Sierra Nevada foothills in Tulare county, California, where these photos were taken by Mary Gerritsen in April, 2008.

Iris purdyi is found in the coastal forests of the north Coast ranges. It has narrow leaves and pale yellow flowers, often tinted purple or veined with purple or brown. This first two photos were taken by Bob Rutemoeller of a plant growing wild along the road in Sonoma County, Northern California. The last two photos were taken by Mary Sue Ittner.

Iris tenax is found in southwestern Washington and western Oregon. It has one or two flowers with erect large standards. Flower color is lavender to white, cream and yellow. It has narrow grassy green leaves and is deciduous. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner of plants grown from seed.

Pacific Coast Hybrids is the name used for some of the hybrids. Below are pictures taken by Bob Rutemoeller of some of the name hybrids. The first is called 'Big Smile. The second was grown from seed of one called 'Pacific High'. The last was a named hybrid with a lost tag.

The following three were given to me by a friend. One was grown from seed from a hybrid named 'Amiquita'. The others were not named. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner.

For more information about these irises visit the Society for Pacific Coast Native Irises.

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