Lamance Iris

Iris brevicaulis (EYE-riss brev-ee-KAW-liss)

Family: Iridaceae Unknown Herbaceous

This low growing iris is in a family of perennial herbs. Its strap-like leaves rise from rhizomes in a flat plane overlapping at the base which may hide the flowers. The one to several blooms emerge from the top of a naked stem which zig-zags for up to 5 inches, giving the iris one of its common names, Zigzag Iris. The showy flowers are formed as 6-parted, with 3 outer, spreading or pendent "falls" and 3 inner, erect "standards", and are bluish-purple to white with a yellow and white crest on the reflexed falls. Bloom time is June, though they are not produced each year. The fruit is a capsule. It spreads by the division of its bulb or rhizome. This is a marsh plant suited to damp grasslands or stream banks of humus and rich acidic soil, but it can grow in average, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Although sporadically native to the Central United States, it is not native to the Southeastern coastal states. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Potential insect pests include aphids, caterpillars, beetles, snails, slugs, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies. They are susceptible to diseases such as bacterial soft rot, botrytis blight or gray mold, leaf spots, root and crown rots, rust, and viruses. More information on Iris .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 51 attributes.