Iris munzii
Munz's iris, Munz's Iris
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Iridaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Iris munzii (Munz's iris) is a native California herb in the Iridaceae family, recognized by tall stature and broad leaves diagnostic.
Munz's iris is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada Foothill and southern Sierra Nevada High Sierra regions, specifically in the Greenhorn Mountains of Kern County, growing in wet, grassy sites at elevations of 540 to 800 meters. Flowering in April, this plant produces blue to pale lavender flowers with blue veining, approximately 6 to 8 centimeters long with elliptic sepals and petals. Growing with unbranched stems 38 to 65 centimeters tall emerging from a rhizome roughly 10 to 11 millimeters in diameter, it develops 1 to 4 cauline leaves similar to its basal leaves. Its basal leaves are 12 to 20 millimeters wide with a green base, while the flower clusters typically feature (2)3(4) flowers with spreading bracts. The plant's style branches extend 35 to 55 millimeters long with distinctive crests 13 to 20 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; tall stature and broad leaves diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet, grassy sites, open to part shade
Elevation: 540-800 m
California counties: Tulare, Kern, Tuolumne
Bloom period
Iris munzii blooms Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
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 munzii native to California?
Yes. Iris munzii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Iris munzii bloom?
Iris munzii blooms Apr.
Where in California does Iris munzii grow?
Iris munzii occurs in Tulare, Kern, Tuolumne, at elevations of 540-800 m.
What plant family does Iris munzii belong to?
Iris munzii is in the Iridaceae family, genus Iris.
Is Iris munzii rare or endangered?
Iris munzii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.