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Iris fernaldii
Iris fernaldii R.C. Foster
Fernald's Iris
Iridaceae (Iris Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: IRFE
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
The leaves of this iris are narrow and gray-green while the flowers are pale yellow. Flower stem is 8-16 in. tall and 2-flowered.
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.
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 16 inches tall.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , YellowBloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul
Bloom Notes: Yellow to whitish with gray veins.
Distribution
USA: CANative Distribution: Santa Cruz to Sonoma, Lake & Solano Cos., CA
Native Habitat: Dry, sunny woods; partially shaded slopes
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: Part ShadeSoil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry-mesic, humus-rich soils.
Conditions Comments: Hybridizes readily with I. douglasiana and I. macrosiphon.
Benefit
Conspicuous Flowers: yesPropagation
Seed Collection: Easily collected from the large capsules.Commercially Avail: yes
Web Reference
Webref 37 - Calscape (2019) California Native Plant SocietyWebref 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 fernaldii in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Iris fernaldii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Iris fernaldii
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-14Research By: TWC Staff