venustus - one of the most variable and colorful species which can range from white to yellow to red to purple; native to the Pacific coast and the Sierra Nevadas. The 3 inner segments are hairy and have 2 blotches of color at the base and the outer segments are much darker colored; 1836; 8"-24".
From Greek words meaning 'beautiful grass', these plants have swordlike leaves and flower spikes rising from the center point; native to the western U.S., the majority are found in California where they were often used as a food crop; with thin but sturdy stems, the flowers have inner segments which are larger than the outer ones; some even have 'beards' like iris; diverse in shape and colors and make great cut flowers; prefers a sunny, well-drained location with moisture in winter and spring but dry in the summer.
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