Blue Flag Iris A Stunning Addition to Your Garden
Blue Flag Iris blooms several violet-blue flowers with yellow-veined sepals. It has a USDA hardiness zone of 3–9. Sturdy stalks support the plant, and sword-like leaves from a basal cluster frame it. The shade of violet-blue can vary. A small amount of white may also be seen around the yellow veins.
It grows to about two or three feet tall, and its flowers bloom from May through August. In nature, it is commonly found in meadows, streams, marshes, and swamps. Butterflies and hummingbirds love pollinating the flowers, and people who add them to their gardens like to place them in partial shade or full sun.
How to Grow and Care for Blue Flag Iris Plants
In human history, irises have represented power. The three parts of the flower stand for wisdom, courage, and faith. People have used the flowers for medical purposes in the past. Some tribes also made twine out of the outermost fibers of the leaves.
Another use of the Blue Flag Iris
plant throughout history is creating powdered iris root. People would add this to perfumes and potpourri because it gives off a violet scent.
Benefits of Planting Blue Flag Iris in Your Landscape
Blue Flag Iris is a marginal aquatic plant that can sit in standing water for up to four inches. They enjoy environments near water sources, such as ponds or lakes. Some people like adding this plant to their pond area because it assists in water filtration.
The flowers are typically lighter in color. Western Flag flowers also have a color variation of sky blue and white. These two plants' hardiness zones and heights also differ from the Northern Flag. Southern Flag, hardiness of 5–9, reaches a height of 2–2.5 feet. Western Flag, hardiness of 3–8, is usually 1–1.4 feet tall.