A Beginner's Guide to Native Iris - The Plant Native (original) (raw)

This is a plant that everyone needs in their gardens. There are hundreds of irises found worldwide, alongside native iris options for every state in the US (except Hawaii.) These iconic flowers you’ll instantly recognize from Van Gogh paintings. You might think that growing irises is best left to professional gardeners—which is not true! Native irises offer elegant beauty with minimal work. Some also thrive in areas you might not think to plant—like the edge of a pond. Scroll on to meet some favorites.

Irises are a gardening staple—did you know there are species native to North America? In this guide, we’ll cover the benefits of planting native irises and introduce you to some native iris options.

First off…

What’s the difference between native and non-native irises?

There are 300+ species of iris found throughout the world. The number rises to an incredible 30,000+ if we include iris cultivars. All irises worldwide have a shared set of similarities. All irises are…

  1. Perennials. When happy, they come back year after year.
  2. Grown from a bulb or a rhizome. Iris bulbs and rhizomes are bulbous roots typically planted close to the soil’s surface. The green stems shoot up from this fat rootstock.
  3. Shaped for pollination. The crazy shape of iris flowers is made to get a pollinator to pollinate. Their petals are pollinator runways.
  4. Named for the Greek goddess of the rainbow. Iris is the Greek goddess of rainbows. One look at the intricate colors in a native iris tells you where the inspiration came from.

Now that we know what all irises have in common, let’s talk about what makes native irises special.

What are the benefits of planting native irises?

There are so many benefits to planting native irises! A few beneficial reasons include:

Now that we’ve briefly covered the benefits let’s explore a few native options.

Meet some native iris species

Here are some native irises found in North America that offer beauty, resilience, and fuss-free care. Organized by region:

Native irises for the Eastern Seaboard

Dwarf Crested Iris

Iris cristata

What a tiny powerhouse! Dwarf Crested Iris thrives in shade to part shade and rich soils. The only things they don’t like are full sun and staying wet. In nature, they are found on forest floors. They are native from Pennsylvania down to Arkansas and Georgia.

Virginia Iris

Iris virginica

Although it’s sometimes called ‘Virginia,’ you can plant this native iris from Newfoundland south to Florida. (It’s also sometimes called Great Blue Flag Iris, Southern Blue Flag Iris, or simply Blue Flag Iris.)

Plant this native along the water line. It is found in “marshes, swamps, wet meadows, along shorelines, and in forested wetlands” (source: USDA.) 2-3′ feet tall, prefers sunny areas.

Northern Blue Flag Iris

Iris versicolor

This native iris thrives along the northeastern seaboard from Virginia north to Newfoundland.

Northern Blue Flag Irises love to be near water. You’ll find them alongside streams, lakes, and rivers, and sometimes IN the water, especially in shallow edges.

Slender Blue Iris

Iris prismatica

A shorter native iris: 1-2 feet. Native from Maine down to Georgia. As you can imagine from its common name—slender blue—this native flower has a thin, reed-like stem and similarly narrow flowers and leaves. A delicate powerhouse of a plant.

Louisiana Irises

I. brevicaulis, I. fulva, I. giganticaerulea, I. hexagona, I. nelsonii

The five species of ‘Louisiana iris’ are celebrated for their stunning blooms, deep southern roots, and preference for sunny gardens. What makes them truly unique is their ability to interbreed exclusively with one another, resulting in a dazzling array of Louisiana iris cultivars. Among these, the iconic ‘Black Gamecock’ Louisiana iris stands out as a favorite.

Native irises for the Western United States

Rocky Mountain Iris

Iris missouriensis

This native iris thrives in the West and Northwest; you’ll find it west of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountains.

Like their eastern cousin, Northern Blue Flag, Rocky Mountain Irises love to be near water. You’ll find them alongside streams, lakes, and rivers.

Tough-leaf Iris

Iris tenax

This native iris from the Northwest (Washington/Oregon/California) can have flower petals in various colors, from purple to blue to white to yellow. According to the Wildflowers of North and Central America, “The species name Tenax is from the Latin for ‘tenacious’, referring to the tough leaves, which were once used by Native Americans to make strong, pliable rope and cord.”

FAQs

Have a sunny, dry spot?

Meet irises’ cousin: Blue-Eyed Grass

If you love blue flowers and have a well-drained and sunny area, let us introduce you to Blue-Eyed Grass. This short native plant balances tiny blue flowers at the top of grass-like leaves. It loves full sun and _doesn’t_like to stay wet.

Why are iris flowers that crazy shape?

This quick 2-minute Southern Blue Flag Iris overview from Spring Island Trust explains how the shape and yellow coloring on native iris flowers help bumblebees pollinate this plant.

Where can I find native irises?

We are not going to lie—sometimes finding a specific native plant is challenging. But it gets a lot easier if you know where to look!

Here are four sourcing ideas to help you find native irises:

What are good pairings for native irises?

The pairings for native irises depend on the region you’re planting in. Some native iris pairings include:

East Coast pairings

West Coast pairings

And now you’ve met some native North American irises! All these native irises offer the iconic beauty of irises with the resiliency present in native plants. Non-native bearded irises are lovely, but native irises also deserve the spotlight. Many native iris species thrive in challenging planting areas, like wetlands or rain gardens. Spend time visiting native nurseries to find some, and watch them return years of beauty. Interested in exploring more native faves? Visit our Beginner’s Guide to Coneflowers or our Beginner’s Guide to Native Magnolias. Happy planting!