Iris douglasiana (syn Iris douglasii) Douglas iris is a beautiful, evergreen, clump-forming perennial that thrives in well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade. Its attractive, tall, sword-like foliage provides year-round interest, while spring brings a spectacular display of showy purple, blue, lavender, cream, or white flowers that bloom above the foliage and brighten the garden with long-lasting seasonal color. Highly valued as a pollinator plant, Douglas iris attracts native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects and performs beautifully in borders, rock gardens, erosion-control plantings, rain gardens with good drainage, and low-maintenance, water-wise landscapes. Plant type/canopy layer: deciduous, perennial, herbaceous plant Size at maturity: 12-36" tall, slowly forming clumps up to 48" wide over time Light requirements: full sun, part sun/part shade Moisture requirements: dry to moist soil, prefers well-drained Bloom time: March - July Growth rate/ease: medium growth rate, easy to grow Wildlife support: flowers attract and provide nectar for hummingbirds, adult butterflies, bees and other insect pollinators; overall plant attracts and supports beneficial and other pest-eating insects Native habitat/range: grows on coastal cliffs, in pastures and on grassy slopes, usually from sea level to only about 100m, generally within two miles from coast, from Southern Oregon to Central California. Portland Plant List - no. Special features & uses: supports hummingbirds; deer resistant; drought-tolerant once established; exceptionally strong fibers leaves can be used for weaving and rope making; landscape uses include meadowscapes, pollinator gardens, rock gardens, woodland garden edges, raingardens or bioswales and container gardens Gardening with Douglas Iris: This beauty grows best in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil and moderate moisture during its growing season, although established plants tolerate summer drought and adapt well to dry, water-wise landscapes. Use this versatile Oregon/California native to create naturalistic drifts in habitat gardens, woodland edges, rock gardens, or on slopes where its evergreen foliage provides year-round structure and its spring blooms complement other native wildflowers and grasses. For the healthiest plants, provide occasional deep watering, i.e. 1x per month, during the first 1-2 growing seasons and avoid poorly drained soils that can lead to root rot. Some gardeners choose to divide crowded clumps every few years after flowering to maintain vigor. It hybridizes readily with other irises and the flowers can be highly variable in color. Companion Plants: Use with other plants that prefer rich, heavy soils and more moisture such as sedges, rushes, western columbine (Aquilegia formosa), white fawn lily (Erythronium oregonum), woodland strawberry (fragaria vesca), thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus), native roses (Rosa gymnocarpa or R. pisocarpa), blue blossom ceanothus (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus), and trees such as Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) or native evergreens. Photo Credit 1 (flower/foliage): © Emily K, some rights reserved (CC-BY) Photo Credit 2 & 9 (with companions, prairie): © Alexander Wentworth, some rights reserved (CC-BY) Photo Credit 3 (white flower close-up): © Anisha Kumra, some rights reserved (CC-BY) Photo Credit 4 (foliage): © Rupert Clayton, some rights reserved (CC-BY) Photo Credit 5 (flower closeup): © Rebecca Johnson, some rights reserved (CC-BY) Photo Credit 6 (white flower): © Jens-Christian Svenning, some rights reserved (CC-BY) Photo Credit 7 (spent flower): © Ryan Sorrells, some rights reserved (CC-BY) Photo Credit 8 (October): © migsgreenworld, some rights reserved (CC-BY)