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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Iris hartwegii (Rainbow iris)
Reveal, James L.

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.

 

From the Image Gallery

35 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 1 foot tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow , Purple , Violet
Bloom Time: May , Jun

Distribution

USA: CA
Native Distribution: W. base of Sierras from Butte to Kern Cos., CA
Native Habitat: Wooded slopes from 2000-6000 ft.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist, humus-rich soil.
Conditions Comments: Hybridizes readily with I. macrosiphon.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

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:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACU OBL
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

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 Plants
FNA: Find Iris hartwegii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Iris hartwegii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-14
Research By: TWC Staff

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