Patersonia spp.
native iris
Australia, New Guinea, and Southeast Asia
Overview
Patersonia is a genus of tufted evergreen perennials in the family Iridaceae, native to Australia, New Guinea, and parts of Southeast Asia, known as native iris or native flag. Plants form grass-like clumps 8 to 24 inches (20 to 60 cm) tall, with narrow, stiff, flattened leaves rising from a short rhizome. From spring into summer, slender stalks carry iris-like flowers enclosed at the base by papery bracts; each flower has three broad spreading outer segments in violet, blue, purple, or occasionally white or yellow, and three much smaller inner segments. The individual flowers are short-lived, often lasting less than a day, but open in succession over several weeks so that a clump flowers over a long season. A capsule of many seeds follows. The genus grows in full sun to part shade on sandy or gravelly, well-drained soils, including low-nutrient ground, and tolerates drought and fire, resprouting from the rootstock. Plants suit warm-temperate to subtropical climates and decline in heavy, wet, poorly drained soil in winter. The grassy foliage and repeated flushes of violet-blue flowers make the genus a feature of native and water-wise gardens.
Native Range
Patersonia is native to Australia, with the greatest diversity in the southwest and east, and extends to New Guinea and parts of Southeast Asia. Plants grow in heath, open woodland, and grassland on sandy or gravelly, well-drained soils.Suggested Uses
Patersonia is grown in native, water-wise, and rock gardens, in containers, and along path edges and dry banks. The grassy clumps and repeated violet-blue flowers suit informal and naturalistic plantings. It is also used in low-water meadow-style schemes in mild climates.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'
Width/Spread8" - 1'6"
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from spring into summer, roughly September to January in the southern hemisphere native range, with new flowers opening over several weeks. Each iris-like flower opens for less than a day, but the succession gives a long display. The violet to blue flowers draw native bees.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
violet, blue, or purpleFoliage Description
green to grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Patersonia grows in full sun to part shade on sandy or gravelly, sharply drained soils, including low-nutrient ground. It tolerates drought once established and resprouts from the rootstock after fire. Heavy, wet, poorly drained soil in winter causes the clumps to rot, so raised or sloping sites suit it. Plants need little feeding and suit warm-temperate to subtropical climates. Established clumps can be lifted and divided in spring to make new plants.Pruning
No routine pruning is needed for these tufted perennials. Spent flower stalks and old, tired leaves can be trimmed away to tidy the clump. Cutting back damaged foliage in early spring makes way for fresh growth.Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons