There are 11 species of these most beautiful irises found along the West Coast of USA, mostly in California, but also in Oregon and Washington. Having very specific cultural requirements, these irises grow easily only in a few places, and we are lucky to be able to grow them here in Victoria.

Native PCI’s enjoy a lightly shaded, dryish woodland situation, with rich gravelly, slightly acidic, well drained soil, and a natural mulch of leaf fall. They like wet autumn and spring conditions, and a dry summer.

Iris Douglasiana – The most easily grown. This robust, frost hardy, evergreen plant grows rapidly into large clumps, and produces blooms on tall (to 50cm), often branched stalks. Flowers come in a wide range from white, through mauve, purple/red and even apricot shades. Leaves have a rosy pink base. Seed pods are angular, and seeds are spherical. (The other species have ‘D’ shaped seeds.)

Iris Innominata – Lower growing and densely clumping, with blooms to 30cm tall. Flowers are broad, and come in an amazing range of colours, with 2 or 3 per bloom stem, and sometimes branching on later season stalks. These make wonderful garden plants and hybridise readily with other species. They are however, susceptible to fungal damping off, and like a very dry summer.

Iris Tenax – Easy to grow, adaptable and hardy. Has tall narrow foliage which dies down in winter. Single blooms per stalk, but with a wide colour range.

Iris Munzii – Frost tender, but worth growing for the colour range, ruffling and veining of its blooms.

Iris Purdyi – Has a good colour range and hybridises readily.

I. tenuissima, chrysophylla, fernaldii,and hartwegii have less interesting bloom, so are not so often grown in gardens, and I. bracteata and macrosiphon are not at all vigourous.

In nature the species hybridise easily giving much variation of flower form, colour and pattern. These plants have been and still are keenly collected, and much hybridisation work is being done both here in Australia and overseas. Most modern Pacific Coast hybrids have arisen from crossing I. douglasiana with I. innominata, with more recent crosses to other species to bring in desirable growth, flower form and colour traits.