Dwarf Crested Iris Information

Geography

• In a wild setting, dwarf crested iris occurs near streams, on woodland slopes and on bluffs. Although the species is native to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 7, it survives in USDA zones 3 through 9. Dwarf crested iris grows wild in states such as Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, westward to Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois.

Features

• The flowers of a dwarf crested iris bloom during April and continue into May. The flowers are as wide as 2 1/2 inches. They are in shades of lilac, pale blue or lavender, with streaks of yellow. The flowers develop on a short stem to the point that they appear to have none at all. When a dwarf crested iris is in flowering mode, the leaves are between 4 and 7 inches in length. After the perennial completes flowering, the leaves grow even longer, with some reaching lengths of 16 inches. Foliage is very narrow, taking on a sword shape. The leaves are shades of green to yellow-green and emerge from the rhizome root system.

Uses and Growing Conditions

• Use the dwarf crested iris in your shade gardens to take advantage of its ability to tolerate shade. This iris grows even in full shade, but it grows in full sun as well. Partial shade is the optimum sunlight condition for this species. Keep the ground damp around a dwarf crested iris if you do plant it in full sunshine. Create entire flowerbeds composed of the dwarf crested iris, or use it as ground cover. The dense foliage of multiple plants together works to cover an area completely. Locate this species on well-draining hillsides where it does well.

Growing Tips

• While you can plant dwarf crested irises from seeds, the seedlings usually do not yield any flowers for two to three years. Since the root system spreads quickly and gives rise to new growth, you can divide the plants in the fall for better results. Once the foliage starts to change to shades of yellow, divide the irises and transplant them to other parts of the landscape.