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Iridaceae
Dwarf Crested Iris
Iris cristata
Woodland grace.
- Family
- Iridaceae
- Genus
- Iris
- Native to
- Eastern United States
- Bloom season
- Spring
- Type
- perennial herb
- Height
- 0.3-0.5 ft
- Sunlight
- part shade
- Soil
- rich, moist, well-drained
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 3-9
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- Dwarf crested iris spreads by shallow rhizomes to form enchanting carpets of blue in deciduous forests.
- The 'crest' on the falls (lower petals) is a raised ridge of tissue in white and orange that guides pollinators to the nectar.
- It was named by botanist William Aiton in 1789 from specimens grown at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- Despite being only a few inches tall, a single colony can spread across many square feet and persist for decades.
- Several Appalachian communities hold annual wildflower festivals where dwarf crested iris is a star attraction.
Color meanings
0
faith
1
gentle beauty