Iris
The iris instills vibrant color into the landscape, and as a result is named after the Greek goddess—Iris. Legend has it that this golden-winged goddess travelled on a rainbow, and wherever she landed, colorful flowers would erupt.
Today, the iris awes gardeners with its delicate beauty and showy, intricate flowers. Below are some irises recommended for cultivation in Florida.
Blue Flag Iris
Blue flag iris (Iris virginica) is an aquatic perennial native to Florida. Its blue-lavender spring blooms provide a vivid color rarely seen in the botanical world. This iris has textured, light-green foliage that emerges directly from the ground. Its clumping nature makes it ideal for mass plantings or as a border plant. Blue flag iris can be planted in USDA Hardiness Zones 8b to 11, preferably in partial shade.
As an aquatic plant, it can grow in boggy areas and in standing water, making it perfect for a water garden. In the wild, blue flag iris occurs in swamps and marshes from the northern and central peninsula west to the central panhandle. It is prevalent throughout the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada. Despite its affinity for water, it is moderately drought tolerant in shade. Blue flag iris spreads readily and reaches 3 to 4 feet in height and 1 to 3 feet wide.
Walking Iris
Walking iris (Neomarica spp.) is a clumping herbaceous perennial with long, glossy green leaves. Its small, striking blooms are a brief but well-loved feature of the plant, lasting only a day. But as the flowers die, more will emerge. The length of the bloom period and the flower color will depend on the species. Walking iris gets its name from its ability to “walk” across the landscape by extending stalks of new plantlets (which emerge from the tops of flower stalks) towards the ground, where they take root. This process is eventually repeated by the new plants, expanding the range and ground cover of the original plant. However, not all Neomarica species have agile legs suitable for walking—some have stems that don’t bend as readily, and the plantlets are held airborne.
Walking iris is not native to Florida but is considered a Florida-Friendly plant. It is commonly found in zones 8B to 11 and grows best in full sun or partial shade. This plant prefers moisture-rich soil and does well in mass plantings. Walking iris can also serve as a feature plant on patios and porches in hanging baskets or other containers. It can even be grown as a houseplant; just be sure to water frequently and keep it in a bright window out of direct sunlight. Neomarica caerulea ‘Regina’, or giant apostle’s iris, is a Florida favorite for shady landscapes. It grows upwards of 4 feet tall and has striking, broad foliage.
Note: Some botanists have suggested that all walking irises (including the genus Neomarica) be lumped together into another genus, Trimezia, but this has yet to be widely accepted. There seems to be good data to support recognizing Neomarica and Trimezia as distinct.
African Iris
African iris (Dietes iridioides), also known as butterfly iris, is an herbaceous perennial with narrow, stiff leaves protruding straight up and out to the side in a fan-like pattern. The white blooms are marked with yellow and blue and are relatively short-lived, lasting about two days. However, their recurrence throughout the year (especially in spring and summer) makes up for the short-but-sweet nature of the blooms. African iris thrives in wet environments, making it an ideal plant for water gardens and wet soil.
This iris can be planted year-round in zones 8b to 11, preferably in partial shade. It can tolerate moderately dry soil conditions but will require frequent irrigation if planted in full sun. The plant reaches 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide and can be grown indoors and outside. Its upright form and persistent flowers provide year-round interest. Dietes bicolor is another Florida favorite—it has a very similar growth habit as Dietes iridioides but has yellow flowers with dark markings.
Louisiana Iris
The plants we commonly refer to as “Louisiana iris” are actually a large group of iris hybrids and can include Iris fulva, Iris brevicaulis, and Iris giganticaerulea. Louisiana irises have dark-green, sword-like leaves and upright flowers that emerge above the foliage. The blooms vary in color, including white, cream, yellow, bronze, pink, red, blue, purple, or nearly black. The spring flowers are popular for cut flower arrangements and are perfect for adorning the home.
Louisiana iris grows in clumps and the leaves rise directly from the ground. It can be planted year-round in zones 6 to 10 and has an affinity for part-shade conditions. It prefers acidic, fertile soil. In freezing temperatures, it will freeze to the ground, but don’t give up on the plant! It will regenerate from the roots in warm weather.
Irises make splendid additions to the landscape with their colorful flowers and unique, upright foliage. With options for native or Florida-Friendly species, you can contribute to the health of the local environment while also enjoying the ambiance of these elegant plants.
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A Note on Names
You may notice some sources refer to the same species of iris by different botanical names. The Atlas of Florida Plants and other trusted sources use Dietes iridioides for African iris instead of Dietes vegeta; we generally try to follow the Atlas, since this is the most comprehensive and accessible source on plants that are native or naturalized in Florida.