Larger Blue Flag Iris Iris versicolor
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-riss VER-suh-kuh-lor
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Larger blue flag iris, is a perennial in the Iridaceae (iris) family native to Canada and the United States spanning south from Nova Scotia into the middle and northeastern United States to Virginia. The specific epithet, versicolor, is derived from this plant's ability to produce many-colored blooms while the common name, "flag", comes from an old English word (flagge) for reeds and refers to its natural preference to wetlands.
It prefers to grow in rich, moist soils and thrives in full sun while it tolerates partial shade. Plants can be grown in up to 4 inches of standing fresh water.
The sword shaped blue-green clumping leaves reach 2 to 2.5 feet tall topped with a mass of blue lavender to white blooms. The blooms are formed of three upright inner standards and three distinctly marked sepals or falls. The leaves are narrow and strap-like 1 inch wide and up to 24 inches long crossing at the base to be fan-like. Though the fruit forms as a capsule, this plant propagates best by division of the rhizomes after blooms fade. Prune back the leaves after the first frost to just above the crown.
Grow in containers in ponds or other water gardens in up to 4 inches of standing water. It is most happy in wet areas of pond margins, wet meadows, and marshy areas where it multiplies naturally forming clumps. It tolerates browsing by deer.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids, iris borer, iris thrips. Disease problems include blossom or leaf blight, baterial soft rot, crown rot, rhizome rot, leaf spot, and mosaic virus.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Pond and Stream
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Iris
- Species:
- versicolor
- Family:
- Iridaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Eastern Canada to North Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Play Value:
- Colorful
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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 Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1-several at the top of a naked stem, 6-parted with 3 outer, spreading or pendent "falls" and 3 inner, erect "standards", variously colored The large 4-inch flowers bloom in late spring to early summer with several (3-5) on a naked stalk of up to 30 inches.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Blue green sword-like leaves 2 feet long and 1 inch wide, entire margins, they stand upright or arch slightly.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Pond
- Riparian
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR, OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Nausea, salivation, vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, diarrhea, 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
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
