Iris hartwegii, the Sierra Iris, is native to the Sierra Nevada range, from 2000-6000 feet high. This Iris grows up to a foot tall from a creeping rootstock. The flowers are consisting of 3 sepals and 3 petals. The Sierra Iris is a creamy, butter-yellow color with darker yellow along the center of the petals and on the inner portion of the petals. The flower stem in slender, from 6 inches to 1 foot tall and bears 1-2 flowers. It spreads slowly through underground rhizomes forming an attractive green clump of shiny green leaves. This variable species usually has narrow, pale-green, deciduous leaves. Hardiness zones 7-10, (-15øC/5øF, 1øC/35øF) in Winter. Sierra Iris goes deciduous during the Winter. It grows best in higher elevation gardens, where it can go dormant in the colder Winters and grow through cooler Summers. It can be found growing in moist meadow areas. Iris hartwegii tolerates full shade.