David Douglas (1799-1834) was a fearless botanist who traveled throughout the wilderness that was California and the Pacific Northwest, seeking new plants to send back to the Horticultural Society of London. California's native iris bears his name.

In Spring, large clumps of iris with flowers ranging from cream to deep purple through natural hybridization, bloom in pastures along the coast, and in the deep shade of coastal forests from northern California to Oregon. The flowers are exquisitely painted with nectar guide lines for a would-be pollinator, in the iris' case a bee or butterfly. The basal, over-lapping leaves reach a foot long and rise from underground stems called rhizomes.

The Native Americans in California had respect and deep knowledge of the plants around them. They knew, that despite the tremendous labor involved, iris leaves made fine cordage. A single fiber taken from the margin of each leaf made strong and silky fibers for fishing nets, rope and snares for catching game. The dried rhizome, not the fresh which was known to be toxic, was used as a strong diuretic, and also useful in healing wounds.

Iris douglasiana can be found in the California Garden (Bed 34 and 35.)

IN BLOOM CONTRIBUTORS:
Docents Joanne Taylor and Kathy McNeil
Profile Contributor: David Kruse-Pickler, Associate Curator