Our Native Irises: Pacific Coast Irises
Iris purdyi: Purdy's Iris
Purdy’s iris occurs in northern California’s coastal ranges between Sonoma and Trinity counties.
Iris purdyi flowers range from creamy yellow to white or to a patina of lavender. The sepals are widely spreading, flattish with reddish brown to purple prominent veins. The petals are widely spreading, flattish, and similar in coloration to the sepals. The inflorescence has one or two flowers. The flowering stalk is shorter than the attending leaves. The few leaves are dark green to gray-green, basal intense pink to dark red spots on the base, and upright to slightly flexing, from branching rhizomes with fibrous roots occurring as dense clumps.
Iris purdyi is found growing in moderately shady mixed hardwood and evergreen forests.