Iris douglasiana
Douglas iris
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Family: Iridaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Iris douglasiana (Douglas iris) is a native California herb in the Iridaceae family, recognized by coastal habitat and branched stems diagnostic.
Douglas iris is a California native perennial found in northwestern and central western California coastal regions, typically in grassy places near the coast at elevations generally below 200 meters. Flowering from May to July, this iris produces flowers ranging from light to dark lavender, deep red-purple, or pale cream with purple veining, featuring large blossoms 5 to 8 centimeters long with broad, obovate sepals and petals. Growing with rhizomes 8 to 9 millimeters in diameter and stems 15 to 50 centimeters tall that are generally branched, it forms graceful clumps in coastal grasslands. Its leaves are primarily basal, 10 to 22 millimeters wide, with 1 to 3 similar cauline leaves emerging along the stem. The distinctive flower structure includes a funnel-shaped perianth tube and style branches with triangular stigmas, creating an elegant and complex bloom characteristic of native California irises.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; coastal habitat and branched stems diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Grassy places, especially near coast
Elevation: generally < 200 m
California counties: Mendocino, Solano, Del Norte, Humboldt, Marin, Monterey, Sonoma, San Francisco, San Mateo, Trinity, Santa Cruz, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Santa Barbara, Shasta, Alameda, Lake, Napa, Alpine, Mariposa, Contra Costa, Butte, Siskiyou, Los Angeles, Inyo, El Dorado, Sacramento
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Iris douglasiana blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Dietes: Iris has broad petal-like style branches; Dietes has thread-like styles and flowers lasting only one day.; vs Canna: Iris has six-parted flowers with drooping sepals; Canna has asymmetric flowers with one petal-like stamen.; vs Hemerocallis: Iris has petal-like style branches opposite stamens; Hemerocallis has simple thread-like styles and six equal tepals.; vs Typha: Iris has showy six-parted flowers; Typha has dense brown cylindrical flower spikes (cattails).; vs Sisyrinchium: Iris has large flowers with drooping outer sepals; Sisyrinchium has small flat flowers with six equal tepals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Iris douglasiana native to California?
Yes. Iris douglasiana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Iris douglasiana bloom?
Iris douglasiana blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Iris douglasiana grow?
Iris douglasiana occurs in Mendocino, Solano, Del Norte, Humboldt, Marin, Monterey, Sonoma, San Francisco and other counties, at elevations of generally < 200 m.
What plant family does Iris douglasiana belong to?
Iris douglasiana is in the Iridaceae family, genus Iris.
What habitat does Iris douglasiana grow in?
Iris douglasiana grows in Common. Grassy places, especially near coast.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.