Appearance

Blue flag has violet-blue flowers with delicate, arching petals that gradually narrow toward the center of the flower. Its petals have purple veins and a white and yellow base. Flowers bloom May to June. Its leaves are long and grass-like. Blue flag grows to 3 feet tall.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

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

Did You Know?

• Blue flag attracts bees and hummingbirds.
• The roots and rhizomes of irises are extremely poisonous to humans and animals.
• Native American tribes used irises medicinally. Some tribes also used the outermost fibers of the leaves to create twine.
• Powdered iris root smells like violets and can be found in some perfumes and potpourri.

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
• Harlequin Blue Flag Iris – U.S. Forest Service
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Iris versicolor – The University of Texas at Austin