Iris verna Linnaeus var. smalliana Fernald ex M.E. Edwards

Upland Dwarf Iris

Herb

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Vascular

Upland Dwarf Iris is a native herbaceous perennial in the Iris family (Iridaceae). It can be found throughout most of Alabama. Upland Dwarf Iris occurs in sandhills, in scrub oak woods, in Longleaf pine forests, in rocky woods, and on slopes and banks. It usually occurs on dry sites. It is a perennial with a scaly rhizome. Leaves are clustered at the apex of the rhizome. The leaves are semi-evergreen, crowed into a “fan”, ensiform (sword shaped) in outline, glabrous, and with entire margins. Flowers are solitary and subtended by 2 leaf-like spathes. The flowers have 3 blue sepals that arch outward. The sepals are marked with an orange and white stripe along their middle. There are 3 erect blue petals. The sepals are known as “falls”, and the petals are called “flags” or “banners”. The flowers are fragrant. The fruit is a capsule. Upland Dwarf Iris is sometimes available from native plant nurseries. It prefers a well-draining soil in full sun. Once established Upland Dwarf Iris is drought tolerant.--A. Diamond

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Native

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