IRIS. Northern Hemisphere, temperate regions. For years I have had a special interest in this group of colorful perennials. Some of the most beautiful of all are natives of our own woods and meadows, and the hybrids based upon them. All have the flattened fans of leaves and general floral form typical of the genus, but they are more delicate in appearance than the better-known European and Asian iris. Sun or part shade near the coast, part shade elsewhere, reasonably well drained non-alkaline soil, moderate to occasional watering when established. Hardy to 0-10^oF.

douglasiana. One of the most easily grown of the natives, this species has been used extensively in the Pacific Coast Hybrids (see below). It forms compact clumps with evergreen, arching leaves of variable height, usually dark green and shiny on one surface and light green and duller on the other. The spring flowers generally range in color from pale lavender to deep violet. 'Canyon Snow' is an outstanding selection by the late Dara Emery of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, with broad, exceptionally shiny leaves and branched stems of large, pure white blossoms with yellow markings. 'Goat Rock' and 'Portuguese Beach' are selections I made a number of years ago from broadly matting populations along the northern coast. They have smallish flowers, lavender in the first case, deep violet in the second. It is perhaps the easiest of the native species to grow.

innominata. One of the species most used in the Pacifica Hybrids, below. It forms dense neat clumps under 1½' tall, with very narrow, usually shiny leaves. The proportionately large flowers come in many colors, ranging from purple to yellow to white. Those of the current form, received several years ago from the late Ed Wood, are a vivid violet shade with white markings. The plants should never dry out completely.

macrosiphon. A rugged native species of deceptively delicate appearance. It forms neat, fountainlike clumps with narrow, arching bluish green leaves. Graceful narrow-petalled blossoms colored white to deep violet decorate the plants in early and mid-spring. Our own selection, 'Mt. Madonna', has violet falls and lighter standards. This is one of the toughest and most drought-tolerant of the native iris. 10^oF. or less.

Pacifica or Pacific Coast Hybrids. This is a diverse group derived from various California and Oregon natives, particularly I. douglasiana, I. innominata, and I. munzii. Both in growth and in bloom, they tend to show classic hybrid vigor, showing a sometimes astonishing rate of proliferation. All form handsome clumps with 6" to 2' leaves, shiny or dull in surface and blue-green to dark green in color. The large flowers are borne in spring, two or more per stem. They include nearly a rainbow of hues, from purple or deep blue, maroon or mahogany to yellow and white. Our offerings began with selections from the noted hybridizer Joseph Ghio and now include both a number of his more recent crosses and some of our own. Some of the latter include 'Lavender Lace', with huge, ruffled flowers, pale lavender in color; 'Little Warrior', a dwarf plant with flowers combining orchid, deep reddish purple and white; 'Orchid Glow', another dwarf, with orchid standards and a deep reddish purple, velvety eye; 'Royal Velvet', with rosy standards and velvety maroon falls; and 'Silver Moon', with white and pale lilac standards and rich, deep purple falls. An older selection from Wayne Roderick is 'Wayne's Violet'. It has very attractive, upright leaves favoring I. douglasiana and vivid red-violet flowers with yellow markings on the falls.