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.
- 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
