Identification
This beautiful native perennial has leaves which are sword-like and up to 2 feet long. The typical iris-like flowers are 3-4 inches across with flower parts in sets of 3 (B). Showiest are the 3 spreading deep blue-violet sepals with purple veins and inner yellow and white patches(A). Rising above them are 3 spatula shaped, erect to spreading blue-violet petals.
Grows in moist ditches and along streams and ponds, flowering in May and June. In Fontenelle Forest, it is uncommon in wet areas on the floodplain where it is more likely to be seen after flood events or in years with heavy spring rainfall.
This strikingly beautiful flower is easily identified as it is the only native blue iris in our area. Another iris, planted long ago at the site of the old Baldwin farmstead on History Trail, still flowers in some years.
Native Americans dried the poisonous roots and made an infusion to cure earache. They also used small amounts of the roots to induce vomiting.
Other common names include Virginia Iris, Southern Blue Flag and Water Flag.
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Roland Barth.