Louisiana Iris Iris hexagona
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-riss hek-sa-GON-uh
- Description
-
This very rare iris is found in a range of South Carolina to Florida and Louisiana giving it the common names of Dixie Iris and Louisiana Iris. It prefers wet, shallow, sunny areas such as marshes, ditches, swamps, and streams or riversides of the coastal areas. It can grow in several inches of water; bog gardens and pond gardens are good options. However, it requires a heavy application of mulch in other garden locations and can tolerate some shade. It is subject to the fungal, bacterial and iris borer difficulties of the Iris family so the bed should be kept clean of old leaves and debris.
This herbaceous perennial is 3-4 feet tall and spreads 1-1.5 feet with the typical lanceolate leaf up to 3 feet long. But, the leaves die back after the early spring bloom and reappear at fall for the next season. The flowers are more similar to I. hollandica than I. germanica in that the flowers on tall 1-3 foot stems are delicate and crisp with the three standards being narrower and shorter over the three widespread falls. They are blue to lavender and sometimes white, with yellow signals rather than beards. The seed pod is hexagonal, but the preferred method of propagation is through the division of the rhizomes planted shallowly. The rhizomes can spread easily making it good for naturalizing.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Flowers Galore Shade Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Black Gamecock'
- var. hexagona
Lavender to pink flower - var. savannarum
Light blue to lavender flower
- 'Black Gamecock'
- 'Black Gamecock', var. hexagona, var. savannarum
- Tags:




- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Black Gamecock'
- var. hexagona
Lavender to pink flower - var. savannarum
Light blue to lavender flower
- 'Black Gamecock'
- 'Black Gamecock', var. hexagona, var. savannarum
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Iris
- Species:
- hexagona
- Family:
- Iridaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Rhizomes used in perfumes
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern South Carolina to N. Florida
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MO , MS , SC , TX
- Wildlife Value:
- Mildly resistant to deer
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Six-sided capsule
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Variegated
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Irregular
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Delicate 3" flowers with 3 short, upright standards, 3 spreading, pendant falls, and yellow signals.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Knife-like, narrow, to 3 feet long and 1.25 inches wide basal leaves that arise from rhizomes.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses