Iris - Photo by Dawn
Irises are flowering plants in the genus Iris which includes many wild and cultivated species. The flowers are gold-yellow, yellow, white, blue, or purple, but cultivated varieties can have different colors (pink, orange, etc.).
Irises are perennial plants. They grow from rhizomes or bulbs.
Cultivated irises are used as ornamental plants in gardens or as cut flowers.
Names
Scientific
Iris spp.
English
Iris (Crop)
Dutch
Iris
Lis
Spanish
Iris
French
Iris
German
Schwertlilie
Italian
Giaggiolo
Taxonomy
Order
Asparagales
Family
Iridaceae
Genus
Iris
Species
Iris spp. (Iris (Crop))
Basic information and facts
Distribution:
Irises are widely distributed in temperate regions (north).
Annual, biennial, or perennial:
Irises are perennial plants.
Flowers:
Irises have usually one or more symmetrical six-lobed flowers. The colors can be gold-yellow, yellow, white, blue, or purple, but cultivated varieties can have different colors such as pink and orange.
Climate and weather:
Irises are found in the northern hemisphere in temperate climates.
Pollination:
Pollinated by insects.
Propagation:
Vegetative propagation from bulbs or rhizomes, but can also be grown from seeds.
Uses:
Cultivated irises are grown as ornamental plants in gardens or to be sold as cut flowers.
Did you know that?
- The name iris comes from the Greek word for a rainbow.
- The Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh painted several painting with irises.
Crop categories
Cool temperate crops
Cut flowers
Mediterranean crops
Minor crops
Ornamental plants
Temperate crops
Pictures
Iris - Photo by Henry Hemming
Iris - Photo by Ian Sane
Iris - Photo by Koshy Koshy
Irises - Photo by Dave Shafer
Irises by Vincent van Gogh - Photo by Tony Hisgett