Iris verna
Botanical Name: Iris verna (added by D. Kramb, 08-NOV-03)
Botanical Synonyms:
Iris verna var. verna (D. Kramb, 18-MAY-07)
Classification:
Vernae (monotypic) (D. Kramb, 18-MAY-07)
Common Names:
Vernal Iris, Dwarf Iris (G. Tepper, 28-DEC-05)
Coastal Plain Dwarf Violet Iris (D. Kramb, 18-MAY-07)
Chromosome Count:
N/A
General Description:
3" to 5" tall, pale violet/blue with bright yellow/orange signal on falls. (G. Tepper, 28-DEC-05)
Distinguishing Features:
Leaves are darker green, more lustrous, and more upright than Iris cristata. Flowers are usually below the leaves. Leaves often are double the height of the bloom. (G. Tepper, 28-DEC-05)
Leaves often persist, unlike cristata, through the winter. (G. Tepper, 28-DEC-05)
Preferred Habitat:
Open, sunny areas to partly shaded sites. Soil acid, roughly 4.5 to 5.5, well-drained, sandy (G. Tepper, 28-DEC-05)
Commonly found growing in nutrient poor acid soils, in semi-shaded mesic to dry woodlands. (D. Kramb, 18-MAY-07)
Hardiness:
Zones 5 to 9 (G. Tepper, 28-DEC-05)
Native Range:
North America, NY to KY, MS and FL (G. Tepper, 28-DEC-05)
Occurs in the coastal plain and piedmont of the southeastern states; Maryland south to Florida. (D. Kramb, 18-MAY-07)
Status in the Wild:
Threatened in OH, Endangered in PA and MD (G. Tepper, 28-DEC-05)
Commercial Availability:
Available from several internet sources (G. Tepper, 28-DEC-05)
Sources Cited:
USDA website (G. Tepper, 28-DEC-05)
Additional Comments:
Easily grown in acid, well-drained soil on the dry side. (G. Tepper, 28-DEC-05)
Species Iris Group of North America
SIGNA member!