Plant Profile: Iris By Craig Huegel Reprinted from The Understory, Mar.-Apr. 1995 (Illustrations © Cathy Vogelsong) The iris family includes a great many species and varieties used extensively as ornamentals in the home landscape. Many of these that northern gardeners are familiar with had their origins in Asia, but iris occur nearly worldwide. And of course, this includes Florida. All iris share certain characteristics. To begin with, they are monocots-grass relatives. Iris have sword-like linear leaves that arise from a thick underground root, known better as a rhizome. A rhizome grows horizontally beneath the soil and often several plants will arise from it. Most iris are perennials. The most noticeable characteristic of iris, and the reason for their popularity, is their showy flowers. Iris flowers have six parts. In the Iris genus, these are divided into three outer segments that are spreading and three inner segments that are erect. In the blue-eyed grass genus, Sisyrinchium, the six segments are nearly identical. In Florida, iris are essentially wetland species. Most inhabit the wet soils that hug the open water, and these will tolerate inundation for many months at a time. The few others ted to be found in moist soil areas of upland habitats. With one exception, iris do not appreciate droughty soils, but they will survive short periods of drought and are reasonably adaptable. Besides meeting their moisture needs, they require at least a half day of sun to bloom well and good soil fertility. A thick layer of mulch will help if you intend to grow them away from a wetland setting in your landscape. Below are short descriptions of our native Iris: Iris. There are two species of Iris commonly seen in Florida native plant communities, although several non-native species are sometimes promoted incorrectly. All native iris are blue. The yellow iris (I. pseudacornus) is native to Eurasia and Africa and has become established throughout the eastern states. The red-flag (I. fulva) is common the wetlands of Georgia, Louisiana, and other areas of the Southeast, but it is not native to Florida. Our species are the southern blue flag (I. virginica) and the prairie iris or anglepod blue flag (I. hexagona). These two are very similar in appearance. The flowers of the southern blue flag have much shorter bracts and the stem of the flowers is straight, as opposed to the zigzag pattern of the prairie iris. Identification in central Florida is made even easier by the fact that the southern blue flag is found only in the Panhandle and in northern counties to St. Johns. Prairie iris occurs throughout north and central Florida. No Iris spp. are found in southern regions of the state. Sisyrinchium. The blue-eyed grasses include perennial and annual species. These occur as short tufted herbs with grass-like leaves. The annual species encountered in Florida (S. exile and S. rosulatum) are non-natives from South America that have become widely naturalized. The later species, commonly referred to as yellow blue-eyed grass, is easily distinguished by its pale flowers. The perennial blue-eyed grasses all have deep blue flowers and are rather difficult to differentiate. One species, scrub blue-eyed grass (S. xerophyllum, incorrectly S. arenicola and S. solstitiale), is a common inhabitant of well-drained upland habitats. It is the only iris in Florida that requires sandy soils and is intolerant of standing water. Other species must be a nightmare for taxonomists because different sources list them quite differently. I figure that if they can't come to a mutual conclusion, there is not much sense for the rest of us to concern ourselves. The species widespread across Florida is generally referred to as S. angustifolium, although it is sometimes called S. atlanticum. No matter what it is called, however, this blue-eyed grass forms a very attractive ground cover in moist soil habitats. Its many blue flowers bloom in spring. Although each bloom lasts for just a day and is rather small, many flowers appear each day across the crown of the clumps and the effect of a large expanse of plants is incredible. Clumps multiply over time, so plant with enough room between them for this to occur and do not mulch.