Vernal Iris Iris verna
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-ris VER-nah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Dwarf Iris is a herbaceous, flowering, perennial native to the eastern United States. Depending on the variety, it is native to all regions of North Carolina. In native environments, it most often occurs in nutrient-poor acidic soils of open to semi-shaded woodlands. Dwarf Iris is a small, fragrant Iris with leaves that are narrower and straighter than those of Iris cristata, and blossoms that appear on short stalks in early spring before the leaves appear. Additionally the flowers lack the crested ridges that are found on the sepals and the flowers are strongly scented.
Dwarf Iris prefers sunny or shaded sites with moist, occasionally dry, acidic soil. It typically creates colonies of flowering plants from rhizomes that are deeply buried. Use this plant in the border of the native garden, but be sure to give it some afternoon protection from the sun.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Watch for slugs and snails.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- var. smalliana
Dy rocky woodlands and forests of the MTs and Piedmont - var. verna
Longleaf pine sandhills, dry, rocky forests and woodlands (rare in NC Piedmont, common in the Coastal Plain)
- var. smalliana
- var. smalliana, var. verna
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- var. smalliana
Dy rocky woodlands and forests of the MTs and Piedmont - var. verna
Longleaf pine sandhills, dry, rocky forests and woodlands (rare in NC Piedmont, common in the Coastal Plain)
- var. smalliana
- var. smalliana, var. verna
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Iris
- Species:
- verna
- Family:
- Iridaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- New York south to Florida and west to Mississippi River.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Capsules 3-angled with single ridge at each angle, almost hidden in bases of spathes.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Intensely fragrant flowers are light to deep blue or violet with a golden yellow signal. Rarely flowers are white. Flowers appear on 2 inch stalks before leaf growth begins.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Sword-shaped leaves, about 6 to 10 inches long, fairly narrow with reddish/purple base.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
