Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Iris germanica

Family

Iridaceae

Flowering season

May to June

English distribution

It is grown in gardens throughout the country.

The naturalised escape is widely scattered throughout, 

but is most common in the South and East Anglia.

See the BSBI distribution map for  Bearded Iris

Habitat

It is a neophyte, which has been grown in gardens for over

1000 years, but has been known in the wild only since the

early 1900s.

It has been become naturalised in relic gardens and from

throw-outs and deliberate plantings.

It grows on waste ground and by roads and railways.

Description

Bearded Iris is a rhizomatous, perennial herb, growing up

to 1m.

The flowers are up to 10cm across and range from blue

to purple.

The beard is white becoming yellow, especially at the

base.

Leaves are wide for an Iris, at up to 6cm.