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Blue Flag

Iris versicolor

Blue flag is a native perennial plant with delicate violet flowers that bloom in spring.

Appearance:

• Violet-blue flowers with delicate, arching petals that gradually narrow toward the center of the flower
• Petals have purple veins and a white and yellow base
• Flowers bloom in May-June
• Long, grass-like leaves
• Grows to 3 feet tall

Habitat:

• Found in wetlands, marshes, swamps, wet meadows, shorelines, stream banks and other wet areas
• Grows in full to partial sun

Range:

• Grows throughout most of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, except in West Virginia

Reproduction and Life Cycle:

• After blooming, flowers mature into a greenish-brown seed capsule
• Seed capsules eventually split open, allowing seeds to scatter
• Also reproduces asexually when underground rhizomes spread

Other Facts:

• Attracts hummingbirds
• Iris roots and rhizomes are extremely poisonous
• Native American tribes used irises medicinally and to create twine

Sources and Additional Information:

• Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• PLANTS Profile for Iris versicolor – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Blue Flag Iris – U.S. Forest Service
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Iris versicolor – The University of Texas at Austin