Why choose native plants? Pacific Northwest native plants know how to live here and how to thrive here. They often need much less water and less fertilizer. They spread slowly and are not invasive. They support a wide diversity of wildlife. And best of all, they look great!
Oregon iris also goes by the common name toughleaf iris. Flowers are showy and range in colors from pale purple to white and creamy yellow. Flower stalks are usually shorter than the leaves, blooming between April and June. When in flower it grows to a height of 8″-14″. Grows in grasslands, meadows, woodlands, and forest openings at low- to mid-elevation. It is native to western Washington and western Oregon. The bright, slender green leaves are grass-like, and as the common name suggests, the leaves are though and fibrous, and have been used for nets, ropes, and other cultural uses. Oregon iris slowly spreads by rhizome. It prefers to grow in shade to part-shade in sandy or loamy soils. It does not grow well in clay soil, but generally grows well in most garden settings. Deer resistant once established. Photo courtesy of SevenOaks.
