Iris hartwegii subsp. pinetorum
Photo: parent species Iris hartwegii · (c) Brendan Black, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Iridaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Iris hartwegii subsp. pinetorum is a native California herb in the Iridaceae family, recognized by very short stature and bright yellow veining.
Pine-dwelling iris is a native perennial found in southern Cascade Ranges and northern and central Sierra Nevada in open pine forest flats at elevations of 400 to 1,500 meters. Flowering in May, this plant produces pale cream-yellow flowers with bright yellow-veined sepals in an inflorescence with two blooms. Growing with very short stems zero to 7 centimeters tall emerging from a slender rhizome, it forms low, compact clusters. Its basal leaves are narrow, 3 to 5 millimeters wide, with a faintly pink base, while cauline leaves become bract-like. The flower's pale yellow perianth tube is funnel-shaped and 12 to 20 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; very short stature and bright yellow veining
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Flats in open pine forest
Elevation: 400-1500 m
Bloom period
Iris hartwegii subsp. pinetorum blooms May.
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 hartwegii subsp. pinetorum native to California?
Yes. Iris hartwegii subsp. pinetorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Iris hartwegii subsp. pinetorum bloom?
Iris hartwegii subsp. pinetorum blooms May.
What plant family does Iris hartwegii subsp. pinetorum belong to?
Iris hartwegii subsp. pinetorum is in the Iridaceae family, genus Iris.
What habitat does Iris hartwegii subsp. pinetorum grow in?
Iris hartwegii subsp. pinetorum grows in Uncommon. Flats in open pine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.