Blue Flag
Iris versicolor

Blue flag is a native perennial plant with delicate violet flowers that bloom in spring.

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A northern blue flag iris blooms at Mabel P. & Paul T. Goetchius Wetland Preserve in Caroline, N.Y., on June 12, 2021. Having once been considered for development as a residential subdivision, the 80-acre preserve is now permanently protected, and is owned and managed by the Finger Lakes Land Trust. The Upper Susquehanna Coalition partnered on the effort to acquire some of the land, which is within the headwaters of the West Branch Owego Creek and open to the public for activities like hiking and cross-country skiing. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program) USAGE REQUEST INFORMATION The Chesapeake Bay Program's photographic archive is available for media and non-commercial use at no charge. To request permission, send an email briefly describing the proposed use to requests@chesapeakebay.net. Please do not attach jpegs. Instead, reference the corresponding Flickr URL of the image. A photo credit mentioning the Chesapeake Bay Program is mandatory. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way or used in any way that suggests approval or endorsement of the Chesapeake Bay Program. Requestors should also respect the publicity rights of individuals photographed, and seek their consent if necessary.

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Appearance

Blue flag has violet-blue flowers with delicate, arching petals that gradually narrow toward the center of the flower. Its petals have purple veins and a white and yellow base. Flowers bloom May to June. Its leaves are long and grass-like. Blue flag grows to 3 feet tall.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

After blooming, flowers mature into a greenish-brown seed capsule. Seed capsules eventually split open, allowing seeds to scatter. Blue flag also reproduces asexually when underground rhizomes (a type of plant stem with nodes that roots grow from) spread.

Did You Know?

  • Blue flag attracts bees and hummingbirds.
  • The roots and rhizomes of irises are extremely poisonous to humans and animals.
  • Native American tribes used irises medicinally. Some tribes also used the outermost fibers of the leaves to create twine.
  • Powdered iris root smells like violets and can be found in some perfumes and potpourri.

Sources and Additional Information

Tags:
Plants & Trees Herbaceous Marshes & Wetlands