Iris douglasiana
| Iris douglasiana | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |    |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Iris douglasiana
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first year. Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer.
Division, best done after flowering in late summer[1]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Cultivation: We have found this species to be exceedingly easy to grow in sun or shade in our medium loamy soil that is slightly acid. It does well in very wet as well as very dry years. It has withstood considerable neglect, forming a very dense clump that seems capable of standing up to grass and other vigorous plants[K]. The following notes, however, suggest a wide difference of opinions over the best conditions for this plant[K]. Requires a rich well-drained lime-free soil[1][2][3]. Another report says that it succeeds in sun or shade in acid or slightly alkaline soils[4]. Requires a moist soil, growing well by water[5]. This species requires a really well-drained soil, dry rather than damp[6]. It succeeds in dry shade according to another report which also says that it is drought tolerant once established[7]. Easily grown in semi-shade in a woodland soil[1]. Tolerates salt spray[4].
Plants are hardy to about -15°c[8].
A very ornamental plant[5], it hybridizes readily, especially with other Pacific coast Irises[4].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[6].
Resents root disturbance, any moving of the plant is best done in early September[4].
Range: South-western N. America - California.
Habitat: Grassy slopes and open places[2] on a wide range of soil types[4].
Usage: A fibre is obtained from the leaves. Traditionally the N. American Indians would take just the one outside fibre from each side of a leaf. This must have necessitated using a huge number of leaves. It makes a beautifully strong and pliable cord or rope[9][10]. It would take a person almost 6 weeks to make a rope 3.5 metres long[10]. The fibre can also be used for making paper[11] The leaves are harvested in summer after the plant has flowered, they are scraped to remove the outer skin and are then soaked in water for 2 hours prior to cooking. The fibres are cooked for 24 hours with lye and then beaten in a ball mill for 3 hours. They make a light tan paper[11].
Plants can be grown for ground cover when spaced about 60cm apart each way[12].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Many plants in this genus are thought to be poisonous if ingested, so caution is advised[13]. The roots are especially likely to be toxic[14].
Plants can cause skin irritations and allergies in some people[14].
Also Known As: I. beecheyana. I. watsoniana.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Grey, Charles. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate, 1938.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Munz, David. A California Flora. University of California Press, 1959.
- ↑ Innes, Clive. The World of Iridaceae. Holly Gate, 1985.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Alpine Garden Society. Alpine Garden Society Bulletin Volume 56. Alpine Garden Society.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Chatto, Beth. The Damp Garden. Dent, 1982.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ Balls, Edward. Early Uses of Californian Plants. University of California Press, 1975.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Coffey, Timothy. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File, 1993.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Bell, Lilian. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press, 1988.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.
- ↑ Frohne, Dietrich and Hans Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Timber Press, 1984.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.