Wild Iris
Growth Habit
HerbaceousPropagation
Seed Treatment and Storage: keep seed moist; 60-90 day cold/moist stratification.
Biocultural Value
Great care should be taken not to confuse toxic blue flag iris with the edible sweet flag or calamus (Acorus calamus), which has similar foliage but minute, drab flowers in finger-like spikes instead of showy blue flowers, among other differences. The Potawatomi wove baskets and mats out of blue flag iris leaves. The Algonquin, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee, Meskwaki, Mohegan, Montagnais, Ponca, and Potawatomi used a poultice of the crushed rhizome for burns, swelling, sores, inflammation, rheumatism, and contusions. The Micmac and Penobscot prescribed the root for cholera and both the Chippewa and Delaware used it to treat tuberculosis.
Poisonous
Iris rhizomes and rootstocks contain a purgative irritant, called irisin, iridin, or irisine, that causes gastroenteritis if ingested in large amounts.
Wildlife Value
The butterfly Papilio glaucus visits blue flag iris flowers for nectar, but probably does not aid in pollination. Only long-tongued bees, such as bumble bees (Bombus spp.) are effective pollinators. Several beetle species have also been observed on the flowers.
Poisonous
YesLocation
Fall Creek Gorge, Ringwood Ponds, Mundy Wildflower GardenCultivation
Description
Narrow gray-green leaves and purplish flowers, borne in early summer. Plants 2' tall, 1' wide.
Source of plant
North Creek Nurseries, The Plantsmen, Busse Gardens, Jardin Botanique de Montreal, Nolin River Nut Tree Nursery, Sunny Border Nurseries
