General Information and Key to Florida's Iris Species
The following is a key to the Iris in Florida's wetlands.
Florida has five native species of Iris; I. brevicaulis, I.
hexagona, I. tridentata, I. virginica, and I. verna. You can
expect to find all of these in wetlands except Iris verna which
is an upland species found in dry, longleaf pine forests. In addition
there are two naturalized species, I. pseudoacorus a yellow
flowering species from Europe and Iris fulva, a reddish flowering
species from gulf coastal states, west of Florida. Both of these species
were introduced through the horticultural trade.
The following is a key to the Iris in Florida's
wetlands.
1a Flowers yellow
Plant with long leaves, generally up to 80 cm long
..... Iris pseudoacorus
1b Flowers other than yellow
Flowers blue or purple
Flowering stems strongly zigzag in appearance
Plants erect ..... Iris
hexagona
Plants lax ..... Iris
brevicaulis
Flowering stems not conspicuously zigzag in appearance
Foliar bracts subtending or equalling the length
of the inflorescence .....
Iris virginica
Foliar bracts not subtending or equalling the
length of the inflorescence .....
Iris tridentata
Flowers reddish to bronze .....
Iris fulva
All of Florida's wetland Iris species are included as OBLIGATE
wetland plants in subsection
62-340.450 (1) F.S., except Iris verna which is an UPLAND
species.
Iris hexagona has the
largest distribution from Collier County north to Holmes County in
northwest Florida to Nassau County in northeast Florida. This is a
species of swamp margins, drainage ditches, canals, pond and lake
margins, and wet prairies. Look for the purple flowers in February
through March in south Florida and late March through April in the north
Florida.
Return to key
Iris
virginica is distributed throughout north Florida and
extends south into Polk County. Found in marshes, pond and lake margins,
swamps, sloughs, hydric hammocks, ditches and canals, wet areas in pine
savannas and flatwoods. This is the tallest of the native iris with
stems to 100 cm long. The pale blue or purple flowers are produced in
March through April.
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Iris
tridentata is a smaller species generally with one flowering
scape, this species produces several violet flowers in April through
May. This is a northern species that reaches its southernmost
distribution in the wet savannas of north Florida.
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Iris brevicaulis is a
rare species in north Florida, reaching the state along river
floodplains in Jackson County. This is a lax plant that produces
partially hidden blue or purple flowers in April through May.
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Iris
verna is the smallest of the native species, mature leaves
are lax, about 6 to 12 inches long. The flowers are also small and
delicate with flowering stems up to 6 inches. This species might be
found flowering in March through early April in the dry pine forests of
Santa Rosa County, where it is locally common.
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Iris
pseudoacorus is a large species with vigorous rhizomes and
large leaves. It is the only yellow flowering species of Iris one might
encounter in Florida. This species has been naturalized throughout north
Florida in ditches, shorelines, stormwater retention ponds, and along
streams.
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Horticulturally
Iris fulva is a smaller species
with reddish flowers. This plant has been selected for a variety of
flower color forms, reddish being the most commonly encountered variety
in north Florida. Naturalized around ponds and lakes.
Return to key
Text by John David Tobe, Ph.D
Iris
virginica is distributed throughout north Florida and
extends south into Polk County. Found in marshes, pond and lake margins,
swamps, sloughs, hydric hammocks, ditches and canals, wet areas in pine
savannas and flatwoods. This is the tallest of the native iris with
stems to 100 cm long. The pale blue or purple flowers are produced in
March through April.
Return to key
Iris
tridentata is a smaller species generally with one flowering
scape, this species produces several violet flowers in April through
May. This is a northern species that reaches its southernmost
distribution in the wet savannas of north Florida.
Return to key
Iris brevicaulis is a rare
species in north Florida, reaching the state along river floodplains in
Jackson County. This is a lax plant that produces partially hidden blue
or purple flowers in April through May.
Return to key
Iris
verna is the smallest of the native species, mature leaves
are lax, about 6 to 12 inches long. The flowers are also small and
delicate with flowering stems up to 6 inches. This species might be
found flowering in March through early April in the dry pine forests of
Santa Rosa County, where it is locally common.
Return to key
Iris
pseudoacorus is a large species with vigorous rhizomes and
large leaves. It is the only yellow flowering species of Iris one might
encounter in Florida. This species has been naturalized throughout north
Florida in ditches, shorelines, stormwater retention ponds, and along
streams.
Return to key
Horticulturally
Iris fulva is a smaller species
with reddish flowers. This plant has been selected for a variety of
flower color forms, reddish being the most commonly encountered variety
in north Florida. Naturalized around ponds and lakes.
Return to key
Text by John David Tobe, Ph.D
