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Native Plant Database

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Iris brevicaulis (Zigzag iris)
Bloodworth, Stefan

Iris brevicaulis Raf.

Zigzag iris

Iridaceae (Iris Family)

Synonyms: Iris foliosa

USDA Symbol: IRBR2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A 1-2 ft., zig-zag stem bears long, glossy leaves and showy blue, lavender or white flowers. The flowers are made up of dark-veined petals and sepals. The sepals are longer than the petals and have a yellow patch toward the base.

A member of the iris family (family Iridaceae) which consists of herbs growing from rhizomes, bulbs, or corms, with narrow basal leaves and showy clusters at the tips of long stalks. There are about 60 genera and 1,500 species, distributed in temperate and tropical regions. Among them, Iris, Freesia, Gladiolus, Bugle Lily, and Montbretia are popular ornamentals. Saffron dye is obtained from Crocus, and essence of violets, used in perfumes, is extracted from the rhizomes of Iris.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: 1-2 feet.
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MO , MS , OH , OK , TN , TX
Canada: ON
Native Distribution: MS to e. TX, n. to OH, IL, MO & extreme e. KS
Native Habitat: Swamps, Shaded woods. Swamps; marshes; bottomlands; damp woods
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil Description: Moist, rich soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay
Conditions Comments: Grow in average, medium wet to wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Although a marsh plant in the wild, this species will do very well in the garden under somewhat normal growing conditions. Prefers a rich, slightly acidic soil.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds
Deer Resistant: High

Propagation

Propagation Material: Root Division
Description: Clump division is the usual method of increase. All native iris can be grown from seed.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 281 - Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F...
* The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Iris brevicaulis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Iris brevicaulis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Iris brevicaulis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-10-03
Research By: NPC

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