Noteworthy Characteristics

Iris veriscolor, commonly called northern blue flag, is a clump-forming iris that is native to marshes, swamps, wet meadows, ditches and shorelines from Manitoba to Nova Scotia south to Virginia, Ohio, Illinois and Minnesota. It is a marginal aquatic plant that forms a clump of narrow, arching-to-erect, sword-shaped, blue-green leaves (to 24” long and 1” wide). Flowering stalks rise from the clump to 30” tall in late spring, with each stalk producing 3-5 bluish-purple flowers (to 4" wide) with bold purple veining. Falls (sepals) have a central yellow blotch surrounded by a white zone. Clumps spread slowly by tough, creeping rhizomes. Northern blue flag thrives in wetland habitats frequented by rushes and sedge

Common Name: blue flag

Type: Herbaceous perennial

Family: Iridaceae

Native Range: Eastern United States

Zone: 3 to 9

Height: 2.00 to 2.50 feet

Spread: 2.00 to 2.50 feet

Bloom Time: May to June

Bloom Description: Violet blue

Sun: Full sun to part shade

Water: Medium to wet

Maintenance: Low

Suggested Use: Water Plant, Naturalize, Rain Garden