The Blue Flag Iris Is a Beautiful Spring Blooming Perennial Plant
The blue flag iris (Iris versicolor) is a herbaceous perennial plant native to North America. It typically grows to be around 2 to 3 feet tall and has long, sword-shaped leaves up to 3 feet long and 1 inch wide. The green leaves have a distinctive mid-rib that runs down the center. This perennial has a long lifespan and is very popular in flower gardens and beds.
Blue Flag Iris Blooms in Spring and Summer Seasons
The blue flag iris blooms in late spring to early summer and produces large, showy flowers that are typically blue to purple, although they can sometimes be white or yellow. The flowers are composed of three upright petals, called standards, and three downward-hanging petals, called falls, often marked with darker veining or spots. The flowers are approximately 3 to 4 inches across and are borne on tall, branching stems that rise above the foliage.
It prefers moist to wet soil and is often found growing near streams, ponds, and other bodies of water. They also tolerate some shade, although they do best in full sun. The plant is relatively low maintenance and is a good choice for a naturalistic or wildlife garden, as it attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
The Blue Flag Iris Plant Thrives in Wetland Environments
Iris virginica shrivel. Also known as the Southern Blue Flag or the Northern Blue Flag, the blooming period is from late spring to early summer and lasts approximately a month for a colony of plants; however, individual flowers are short-lived.
They have a pleasant floral fragrance and are cross-pollinated by bumblebees and long-horned bees. Butterflies and skippers also visit occasionally but are less effective at cross-pollination. The insects suck nectar primarily from the flowers, but some of the bees also collect pollen.
Blue Flag Iris Has Stunning Blue Blooms
This perennial plant grows two to four feet tall with clumps of sword-shaped green or bluish-green erect basal leaves up to three feet long. The blue-violet flowers are up to 3½ inches across. The petaloid sepals spread out from the flower’s center and are blue-violet with prominent patches of white and yellow with purple veins.
The shorter, oblong branches have upturned tips. The ascending petals are blue-violet with darker purple veins. Later, the flowers are replaced by capsules with rows of tightly stacked seeds. The seeds can float on water when the capsules split open and spread to new areas.
The root system of fleshy rhizomes with coarse fibrous roots produces colonies of plants. The iris prefers wet to moist conditions, must not dry out, is partial to a partially shaded location, and needs rich organic soil. Seeds also should stay dry; store them with some moist sand.
This attractive plant is ideal for the edges of streams, ponds, or retention areas and can be found in Florida marshy areas. It grows in standing water but can tolerate average garden soils and regular watering.
Its suitable for massing in front of shrubs, can be used as a spiky accent plant and is a year-round favorite in the garden. Although the lavender to purple flowers only bloom briefly in the spring, the upright coarse-textured foliage remains attractive.
