Poor Man's Orchid Trimezia

The common name, Walking Iris' is derived from the plants' natural traits.  New plantlets are formed at the end of each flower stalk and once flowering is complete the stalk falls over.  At that point, a new plant begins to grow.  This leads to the reference that the plant walks.  Other common names include the word 'apostle', which refers to the undocumented belief that the plant will not flower until 12 or more leaves are present, referring to the 12 apostles.

Growing from a corm or a rhizome, the walking iris is a genus of about 20 plants in the Iridaceae (iris) family found all over the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. Its genus comes from the Greek word 'tri' and 'meze' which translates to 'three' and 'greater'.

Its flowers appear to be a cross between an orchid and an iris.  The short-lived blooms last only one day.  However, they will bloom for an extended period of time through the spring, summer and into the fall.  

Depending on the location, this plant can be grown as an evergreen or as a perennials.  It is hardy in Zones 10 and 11, but can be container grown in cooler climates to be wintered indoors.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious insect or disease issues.  In cooler locations, this plant may grow but will not produce flowers.  Brown leaf tip indicate that the plant is receiving too much water.