Description

Fernald’s Iris inhabits dry, lightly shaded areas of the northern and southern coastal mountains surrounding the San Francisco Bay. The leaves are gray-green and narrow. The plant will form a ring as it spreads laterally via rhizomes. The flower color varies from white to yellow to purple. In the Santa Cruz Mountains, this is the prominent iris on the inland side. The local flowers are white with fine yellow and purple details. Perhaps surprising for an iris, Fernald’s iris is sensitive to summer water. It should be naturalized. It will remain green even during the dry heat of summer.