Harlequin Blueflag
Iris versicolor
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Iridaceae
- Genus:
- Iris
- Species:
- Iris versicolor
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Geophyte
- Height:
- 3-4 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun, Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may, jun, jul, aug
- Bloom Colors:
- Blue, Purple
Native Range
United States: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, Canada: Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, moisture-retentive loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Thrives in wetland areas and along water bodies
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.
Notes: Seeds may require light for optimal germination.
Source: OpenAI GPT-4o