Yellow Flag Iris pseudacorus
Other Common Name(s):
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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Yellow Flag Iris is an easy to grow perennial blub native to Eurasia and Africa with showy yellow flowers that perform best in wet soils. It can grow in water up to 10 inches deep or the wet muds along a pond. The bright yellow iris-like flowers appear in April to June and the foliage is sword-shaped and up to 36 inches long. This plant spreads by rhizomes and seeds and can quickly overtake native plants in wet sites.
Although it grows in wet sites it can adapt to somewhat drier sites in moist to wet gardens. It prefers full sun in boggy sites. The North Carolina Invasive Species council lists yellow flag iris as invasive. Take care to prevent this plant from escaping into the wild. See native alternatives to the left.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Do not plant near natural waterways as it can naturalize and become invasive.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Dry Rock Stream Garden Floricyle
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Iris
- Species:
- pseudacorus
- Family:
- Iridaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The rhizome has been used in herbal medicine. The plant also has the ability to take up heavy metals out of water.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, north Africa, western Asia
- Distribution:
- It has naturalized in much of the USA
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Water Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a dry 3-sided capsule 1.5–3 in long, containing numerous pale brown seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- 3-4 inch yellow iris-type flowers with several flowers per stem April to June
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Erect sword-shaped leaves are up to 35 inches long and 1.2 inches wide. Parallel venation and smooth margins
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The flowering stalk is stout and glabrous
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
