Snake Lily Iris
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-riss
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The family Iridaceae is a very large one of perennial herbaceous herbs growing from a rhizome, corm or bulb. There are Iris varieties native throughout the world which offers a possibility of use in a native or woodland garden. They grow in mounds or drifts in rich soils, some prefer wet or marshy areas and even standing water. Some can be grown as houseplants. Different varieties require light from full sun to full shade. They propagate through root division or by seed.
The leaves tend to be long, strap-like and sword-shaped, overlapping at the base and oriented in one plane. The flowers of lone to several blooms are carried at the top of a naked stem which can be as short as 3 inches in dwarf varieties to as tall as 3 feet. The showy blooms are 6-parted with 3 often distinctly marked outer, spreading or pendent "falls" and 3 inner, erect "standards". Iris are variously colored from blues to violets to yellows to oranges to white to even black and are prized as cut flowers in the perennial garden. The seeds are carried in a fruit capsule, but the division of rhizome or root is the best propagation method and to prevent overcrowding. Some varieties require rhizomes to be at soil level, while others tolerate planting corms and bulbs deeper in the soil.
In general, Iris are deer and rabbit resistant.
Quick ID Hints:
- Petaloid style overlapping petaloid sepals.
- Basil leaves are commonly fan-shaped.
- Leaves are 2-ranked and often flat.
To learn more about individual species, see the boxes below.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Poolside Garden Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Sunken Pond Garden Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Front Shade Garden Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Sunken Pond Garden Shaded Patio Garden Full Sun Flower Garden Shaded Patio Garden Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Part Sun-Part Shade Gardens Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Front Shade Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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I. brevicaulis
- I. louisiana 'Black Gamecock'
- ‘Jellicle Cat’
I. cristata
I. domestica
I. ensata
I. germanica
I. hexagona
I. hollandica
I. latifolia
I. tectorum
I. versicolor
I. virginica
- I. louisiana 'Black Gamecock'
- I. brevicaulis, I. cristata, I. domestica, I. ensata, I. germanica, I. hexagona, I. hollandica, I. latifolia, I. louisiana 'Black Gamecock', I. reticulata, I. tectorum, I. versicolor, I. virginica, ‘Jellicle Cat’
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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I. brevicaulis
- I. louisiana 'Black Gamecock'
- ‘Jellicle Cat’
I. cristata
I. domestica
I. ensata
I. germanica
I. hexagona
I. hollandica
I. latifolia
I. tectorum
I. versicolor
I. virginica
- I. louisiana 'Black Gamecock'
- I. brevicaulis, I. cristata, I. domestica, I. ensata, I. germanica, I. hexagona, I. hollandica, I. latifolia, I. louisiana 'Black Gamecock', I. reticulata, I. tectorum, I. versicolor, I. virginica, ‘Jellicle Cat’
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Iris
- Family:
- Iridaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North temperate America, Europe, Asia
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- deer and rabbit resistant (in general)
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1-several flowers at the top of a naked stem in bracteated heads. Perianth tubular with 6-parted segments with 3 outer, spreading or pendent "falls" that are narrowed basally into a haft, are spreading to deflexed above, are bearded or with colored trichomes or crest, or are lacking these traits often with basal medial color patch. 3 inner, erect "standards", variously colored, clawed, and reduced. Stamens 3, styles 3, petaloid, overarching falls.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Variegated
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Strap-like, overlapping at base, oriented in one plane. Leaves are 2-ranked, linear to ensiform, flat or tetragonal. Basal leaves are commonly in fans. Cauline leaves are sheathing or in an apical tuft.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- 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
