How to Grow and Care for Douglas Iris

Those flamboyant bearded irises may get most of the attention, but the not-so-humble Douglas iris is ready for more time in the spotlight.

A North American native, this spectacular species grows in coastal California and Oregon.

But it makes a superb ornamental for those across North America who need something showy for a shady spot or a plant that can deal with that perennial garden challenge: heavy clay soil.

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This is going to sound silly, but I remember the first time I saw a big wild patch of Douglas irises.

I was on a trip to northern California in my late teens and I was absolutely convinced that someone had planted some irises and they had escaped the garden somehow.

It just didn’t compute in my brain that a wildflower could be so big and beautiful.

Believe it, baby.

There’s a lot of awesome stuff to know about these plants, so if you’re ready to learn more, here’s what we’ll be discussing:

These plants have a fascinating, long history, not only as an ornamental but as a valuable food and tool. Surprised? There’s more where that came from. Let’s take a look:

Douglas irises (Iris douglasiana), also known as western or mountain irises, are native to the Pacific Coast of North America.

You’ll sometimes see them called Pacific or Pacific Coast irises, but that’s a more general term for the native irises that grow in coastal California, Oregon, and Washington.

These “Pacific” irises include those in the Californicea series, which is part of the subgenus Limniris, a group made up of “beardless” irises.

These “Pacific” species are bowl-tube (I.