Iris virginica

Common Names

Virginia Blue Flag, Virginia Iris, Great Blue Flag, Southern Blue Flag

Summary

Iris virginica, commonly called Virginia iris or Southern Blue Flag, is a native eastern North American wetland perennial that grows as a rhizomatous clump and reaches about 2–3 feet tall with sword-shaped green leaves. It bears violet-blue flowers, often with white and yellow markings on the falls, on tall flowering stalks in late spring to early summer, creating a striking blue-violet display in moist habitats. Preferring full sun to partial shade, the Virginia iris thrives in consistently moist to wet soils, tolerating shallow standing water and a ph range from acidic to neutral. It forms colonies by creeping rhizomes and spreads slowly, can be propagated by division or seed, and is well suited to water gardens, pond and stream borders, rain gardens, and native plantings, while attracting pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2-3 feet

Spread

24-36 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun; tolerates Partial Sun and Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Wet, water-saturated soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained, moist soil

Soil pH

6.0-7.0, Slightly acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Blue to blue-violet

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and birds