Iris purdyi
Purdy's iris
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Family: Iridaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Iris purdyi (Purdy's iris) is a native California herb in the Iridaceae family, recognized by variable colors and toothed crest margins.
Purdy's iris is a California native perennial found in northern coastal California (NCoRO) on grassy or rocky slopes at the edge of Douglas-fir or redwood forests, typically at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces distinctive pale cream-yellow or rose-violet flowers with prominent brown-violet veins, with large sepals 5 to 7 centimeters long and 15 to 23 millimeters wide. Growing with unbranched stems 6 to 25 centimeters tall from a rhizome 4 to 6 millimeters in diameter, it develops basal leaves 5 to 11 millimeters wide. Its leaves are minimal, with 0 to 5 bract-like cauline leaves that are generally overlapped. The flower's intricate perianth tube measures 35 to 60 millimeters long, with style branches 35 to 45 millimeters long featuring truncate or rounded crests with minutely toothed margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; variable colors and toothed crest margins
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Grassy or rocky slopes on edge of Douglas-fir or redwood forests
Elevation: generally < 1200 m
California counties: Humboldt, Mendocino, Tehama, Trinity, Sonoma, Shasta, Siskiyou, Los Angeles
Bloom period
Iris purdyi blooms Apr-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 purdyi native to California?
Yes. Iris purdyi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Iris purdyi bloom?
Iris purdyi blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Iris purdyi grow?
Iris purdyi occurs in Humboldt, Mendocino, Tehama, Trinity, Sonoma, Shasta, Siskiyou, Los Angeles, at elevations of generally < 1200 m.
What plant family does Iris purdyi belong to?
Iris purdyi is in the Iridaceae family, genus Iris.
What habitat does Iris purdyi grow in?
Iris purdyi grows in Common. Grassy or rocky slopes on edge of Douglas-fir or redwood forests.
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.