ruthbancroftgarden:

Iris unguicularis

While bearded irises make a big show in the spring, Iris unguicularis kicks things off much earlier, coming into flower in the latter part of the fall. It is native to the Mediterranean basin, and can be found both in North Africa as well as Greece, Turkey and Syria in the eastern Mediterranean. Though not very tall, it is very free-flowering. It often has paler blue flowers, but the selection pictured has deep purple-blue flowers. It does very well in the Mediterranean climate of coastal California.

-Brian