To get Seattle landscape designer Gregory Smaus, appreciation for the Pacific Coast iris started while hiking in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains. “I was astounded that these massive specimen flowers were part of the native flora,” he writes. Now it inspires his own garden. “The Irises are put in bulk per variety; they may be seen from afar and give a reason to walk down the road to get a closer inspection.”
Pacific Coast iris, native to the woodlands and coastal bluffs of the west coast of the United States, is a resilient plant with fragile, long-lasting blossoms that look in January and last through May. If your climate boasts warm, dry summers and moist, temperate winters, it may add a tide of colour to your garden’s understory, and deliver welcome colour to your mid-winter backyard.
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Botanical name: Iris sp
Common names: Pacific Coast Iris (PCI), Pacificas
USDA Islands: 7-10 (Check out the newest interactive USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map)
Water necessity: moderate to none at summertime
Sun necessity: Full sun to light shade
Mature size: 6-24″ tall
Tolerances: Summer drought
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Distinguishing traits. Originating from 11 species native to west coast of the United States, Pacific Coast iris hybrids are available in shades of whites, whites, pinks, browns, and purples — some with ornate veins or patterns.
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Depending on local climate, flowering occurs starting in January and persists through May — with peak bloom time happening through March and April.
Pacific Coast iris grows well from seed from well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Spring and autumn are the best seasons to transplant as roots are actively growing at the moment. The plants will go dormant after flowering. Cut back spent blossoms and leaves in preparation for next year’s blossoms.
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Keep it growing. Use the native climate of Pacific Coast iris as your manual for growing. California summers are long and dry, therefore PCI will require little to no watering during that moment. Winters are mild with occasional frost. Plant PCI in full sun or in areas of your backyard that get filtered day sun to protect from warm mid-day warmth.
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Emulate the woodlands or meadows of Pacific Coast iris’s natural habitat for a loose and organic landscape.
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Growing in compact clumps, the foliage of PCI is finer than other iris species — nearly like blades of grass.
Native Root Designs
Native Root Designs
Find out More about Pacific Coast iris
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