Iris tenuissima subsp. tenuissima

Family: Iridaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Iris tenuissima subsp. tenuissima is a native perennial found in northwestern California and northern Sierra Nevada foothills in dry, open woodland habitats at elevations of 100 to 1,700 meters. Flowering in May, this delicate iris produces pale cream flowers with distinctive purple to reddish veins creating an elegant, subtle color pattern. Growing with slender stems and narrow leaves 5 to 8 millimeters wide, it features 1 to 3 cauline leaves that closely resemble its basal leaves. Its leaves emerge in a graceful, linear form with a delicate structure typical of woodland iris species. The plant's outer bracts extend 6 to 9 centimeters, adding to its elegant botanical profile.

Habitat: Dry, open woodland, roadcuts

Bloom period: May

Elevation: 100-1700 m

Bioregions: NW, n SNF.

California counties: Butte, Trinity, Siskiyou, Humboldt

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.