Iris foetidissima
Coral iris, Coral Iris
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Family: Iridaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Iris foetidissima (Coral iris) is a non-native California herb in the Iridaceae family, recognized by fetid odor and red seeds diagnostic.
Coral iris is a naturalized perennial found in southern San Francisco Bay and southern Sacramento Valley ranch areas in damp, lightly shaded environments at elevations of 300 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces pale yellow to brown flowers with red-brown or green veining, featuring sepals 3 to 5 centimeters long and petals 3 to 4 centimeters long. Growing with branched stems 25 to 40 centimeters tall, it emerges from a rhizome 9 to 14 millimeters in diameter. Its leaves produce a distinctive fetid odor when crushed, with basal leaves up to 35 millimeters wide and 2 to 4 cauline leaves similar in structure. When mature, the plant produces distinctive globular seeds that are generally bright red.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; fetid odor and red seeds diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Damp areas in light shade
Elevation: 300-1400 m
California counties: Alameda, Marin, Solano, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz
Outside California: Europe, northern Africa, central Asia
Bloom period
Iris foetidissima blooms Jun-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 foetidissima native to California?
No. Iris foetidissima is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Iris foetidissima bloom?
Iris foetidissima blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Iris foetidissima grow?
Iris foetidissima occurs in Alameda, Marin, Solano, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, at elevations of 300-1400 m.
What plant family does Iris foetidissima belong to?
Iris foetidissima is in the Iridaceae family, genus Iris.
What habitat does Iris foetidissima grow in?
Iris foetidissima grows in Damp areas in light shade.
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.