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Iris hartwegii
Iris hartwegii Baker
Rainbow Iris, Sierra Iris
Iridaceae (Iris Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: IRHA
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
This variable species usually has narrow, pale-green leaves and light-yellow to whitish to lavender flowers with golden or purple veins. The slender flower stem is from 6 in. - 1 ft. tall, and bears 1-2 flowers.
A member of the iris family (family Iridaceae) which consists of herbs growing from rhizomes, bulbs, or corms, with narrow basal leaves and showy clusters at the tips of long stalks. There are about 60 genera and 1,500 species, distributed in temperate and tropical regions. Among them, Iris, Freesia, Gladiolus, Bugle Lily, and Montbretia are popular ornamentals. Saffron dye is obtained from Crocus, and "essence of violets," used in perfumes, is extracted from the rhizomes of Iris.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 1 foot tall.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Yellow , Purple , VioletBloom Time: May , Jun
Distribution
USA: CANative Distribution: W. base of Sierras from Butte to Kern Cos., CA
Native Habitat: Wooded slopes from 2000-6000 ft.
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist, humus-rich soil.
Conditions Comments: Hybridizes readily with I. macrosiphon.
Benefit
Conspicuous Flowers: yesPropagation
Seed Collection: Easily collected from the large capsules.Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACU | OBL |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Iris hartwegii in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Iris hartwegii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Iris hartwegii
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-14Research By: TWC Staff