Iris virginica - Southern Blue Flag - 38 Plug Tray

Southern blue flag is a clump-forming perennial native to the eastern United States. It prefers rich, sandy, wet soil and full sun. It requires consistent moisture to survive but can tolerate up to six inches of standing water, making this a perfect species for rain gardens, pond edges, streambanks, and ditches. Its attractive leaves are shaped like swords an inch wide and two to three feet tall. They are held in a flat array and stand upright or arch slightly. Spreading through rhizomes, southern blue flag can form dense stands of visually appealing foliage. In early summer, the large, gorgeous iris flowers emerge above the foliage atop unbranching stems. Their intricate coloration invites viewers to stop and look closer. The sepals or “falls” are a white-violet gradient splashed with gold and adorned with an ornate linework of deep purple veins. After the flowers are pollinated, primarily by bumblebees and longhorn bees, they are replaced with large, upright, leathery green seed pods. These seed pods turn brown and split open in the fall and winter, creating additional seasonal interest.