Southern Blue Flag
ExplorePlants
Southern Blue Flag
iris virginica
The Southern Blue Flag is a beautiful flower that has bright blue petals and grows near water. Children will love to spot these colorful flowers in wetlands and gardens!
Habitat: Wetlands, marshes, and the edges of ponds.
Appearance
The Southern Blue Flag has striking blue-violet flowers, each with intricate yellow and white markings on its lower petals, resembling a landing strip for pollinators. Its upright, sword-like green leaves form dense clumps, making it distinct in wetland environments.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAsparagalesFamilyIridaceaeGenusIris
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Indigenous peoples once used parts of this iris for traditional medicines!
Its name 'Iris' comes from the Greek word for rainbow, like its many colors!
Some types of iris can actually live for over 50 years!
This plant's seeds can float far away on water to start new plants!
Special abilities
Ability
Wet Feet
Southern Blue Flag can thrive in consistently wet soil or shallow water, allowing it to colonize marshy areas.
Ability
Underground Navigator
Its thick, creeping rhizomes help Southern Blue Flag spread widely and anchor itself firmly in loose, wet soil.
Ability
Landing Strip Guide
The distinctive yellow and white markings on its petals guide insects directly to the pollen and nectar.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 60-90 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 7-10 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late_spring_to_early_summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Common Eastern Bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
Gathers nectar and pollen
pollinates
Spicebush Swallowtail
Papilio troilus
Feeds on nectar, helping reproduction
eats
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
Sometimes consumes rhizomes and leaves
shelters
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Uses dense growth for cover and nesting
Traits
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Endangered
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Also known as
Louisiana IrisVirginia Iris
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Southern Blue Flag?
60-90 cm
How wide does Southern Blue Flag spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on Southern Blue Flag?
7-10 cm
When does Southern Blue Flag bloom?
Late_spring_to_early_summer
Is Southern Blue Flag edible?
No
Is Southern Blue Flag toxic?
Mild
What is Southern Blue Flag's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Southern Blue Flag pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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