Starting a series within a series, I will be highlighting shade plants that grow well underneath trees, especially California Live Oak. I have a deep shade area beneath many trees here in my own garden and i am constantly looking for plants that can help green this area. — Douglas


Sierra Iris (Iris hartwegii)

While this would be lovely in the garden, I think here in Southern California you would be a pond or a march garden in order to provide enough moisture. Most iris are water loving plants that only really thrive in conditions that are almost constantly moist.

Irishartwegii.jpg

By Tom Hilton – originally uploaded to Flickr as Hartweg’s Iris 02, CC BY 2.0, Link

What are your thoughts on this Interesting Plant? Drop a note in the comments!

The Sierra Iris is a creamy, butter- yellow color with darker yellow along the center of the petals and on the inner portion of the petals. Flowers can sometimes be purple! It spreads slowly through underground rhizomes forming an attractive green clump of shiny green leaves. The Sierra Iris is native to the Sierra Nevada range, from 2000-6000 foot. It can be found growing in heavy moist shade, in thick duff under firs and pines, and in sunny, moist meadow areas. Sierra Iris goes deciduous during the winter. Sierra Iris grows best in higher elevation gardens, where it can go dormant in the colder winters and grow through cooler summers. 

— Las Pilitas Nursery

More information on Sierra Iris (Iris hartwegii):

 

 
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Previously in the Interesting Plant series: 

Interesting Plant is a series from A Gardener’s Notebook blog and podcast that highlights the most interesting plants I find in my Internet and real-world travels — Douglas

The Sierra Iris is a creamy, butter- yellow color with darker yellow along the center of the petals and on the inner portion of the petals. Flowers can sometimes be purple! It spreads slowly through underground rhizomes forming an attractive green clump of shiny green leaves. The Sierra Iris is native to the Sierra Nevada range, from 2000-6000 foot. It can be found growing in heavy moist shade, in thick duff under firs and pines, and in sunny, moist meadow areas. Sierra Iris goes deciduous during the winter. Sierra Iris grows best in higher elevation gardens, where it can go dormant in the colder winters and grow through cooler summers.