Iris brevicaulis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-riss brev-ee-KAW-liss
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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This low growing iris is in a family of perennial herbs. Its strap-like leaves rise from rhizomes in a flat plane overlapping at the base which may hide the flowers. The one to several blooms emerge from the top of a naked stem which zig-zags for up to 5 inches, giving the iris one of its common names, Zigzag Iris. The showy flowers are formed as 6-parted, with 3 outer, spreading or pendent "falls" and 3 inner, erect "standards", and are bluish-purple to white with a yellow and white crest on the reflexed falls. Bloom time is June, though they are not produced each year. The fruit is a capsule. It spreads by the division of its bulb or rhizome. This is a marsh plant suited to damp grasslands or stream banks of humus and rich acidic soil, but it can grow in average, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade.
Although sporadically native to the Central United States, it is not native to the Southeastern coastal states.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Potential insect pests include aphids, caterpillars, beetles, snails, slugs, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies. They are susceptible to diseases such as bacterial soft rot, botrytis blight or gray mold, leaf spots, root and crown rots, rust, and viruses.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Iris
- Species:
- brevicaulis
- Family:
- Iridaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Forest, woodlands, or natural area,
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Ontario to North Central & Eastern U.S.A
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Large, deep, bluish-purple flowers with yellow and white crests on the reflexed falls
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Riparian
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Nausea, salivation, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, lethargy, elevated temperature following ingestion; skin irritation upon contact with seeds, rootstock, or cell sap. Highest concentration in rhizomes
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Pentacylic terpenoids (zeorin, missourin and missouriensin), Irisin, iridin, or irisine
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Roots
