Iris fulva
Botanical Name: Iris fulva (added by D. Kramb, 05-OCT-03)
Botanical Synonyms:
Iris cuprea, I. rubescens (D. Kramb, 05-OCT-03)
Classification:
Louisiana, Hexagonae (D. Kramb, 05-OCT-03)
Apogon, Beardless Iris (D. Kramb, 01-JAN-04)
Common Names:
Copper iris (D. Kramb, 05-OCT-03)
Chromosome Count:
2n=42 according to the SIGNA Checklist of Iris Species (D. Kramb, 18-SEP-04)
General Description:
18"-31" (45-80cm) tall, with red, copper, orangish, or yellow flowers (D. Kramb, 05-OCT-03)
Flowers are 4" to 4.5" (10-12cm) across in brick red, rust red, or coppery red, occasionally yellow. Flowers generally drooping with occasional slight flare. (D. Kramb, 01-JAN-04)
Distinguishing Features:
Rhizomes are 4 to 5 inches long and do not exceed 3/4" diameter (2cm). (D. Kramb, 01-JAN-04)
The anthers often extend beyond the tips of the style arms, a characteristic unique to Iris fulva. (D. Kramb, 16-MAY-04)
Preferred Habitat:
Open wetlands, sunny streambanks (D. Kramb, 05-OCT-03)
Partial shade to full sun. Swamps, streams, canals, and roadside ditches. Grows best in fertile soil rich in organic matter. (D. Kramb, 01-JAN-04)
Hardiness:
Estimated Zone 3-10 (D. Kramb, 05-OCT-03)
Native Range:
USA (Mississippi River Valley) (D. Kramb, 18-SEP-04)
Status in the Wild:
N/A
Commercial Availability:
Specialty. Often available at water garden centers. (D. Kramb, 01-JAN-04)
Sources Cited:
Most info added on 01-JAN-04 comes from the book "The Louisiana Iris: Taming of a North American Wildflower". (D. Kramb, 01-JAN-04)
Additional Comments:
Does not tolerate dense shade or brackish water. (D. Kramb, 01-JAN-04)
This species has performed exceedingly well for me in Zone 6 with no winter protection, even plants wild collected in the Deep South (USA). It has done best when grown in a pond rather than in a garden bed. (D. Kramb, 31-DEC-05)
Species Iris Group of North America
SIGNA member!