Watsonia sp.
Family: Iridaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Watsonia sp. is a non-native California perennial in the Iridaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Crocosmia: Watsonia has upright spikes with flowers in two rows; Crocosmia has arching spikes.; vs Chasmanthe: Watsonia has equal-sized flower lobes; Chasmanthe has one much larger upper lobe.; vs Gladiolus: Watsonia has style branches divided to middle; Gladiolus has undivided or shallowly notched styles.; vs Ixia: Watsonia has tall spikes to several feet; Ixia is smaller with star-shaped flowers on shorter stems.; vs Freesia: Watsonia has flowers in two rows; Freesia has one-sided spikes with strongly fragrant tubular flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Watsonia sp. native to California?
No. Watsonia sp. is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Watsonia sp. belong to?
Watsonia sp. is in the Iridaceae family, genus Watsonia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.