Iris verna Linnaeus var. verna . clade: Gattenhofia. Common name: Coastal Plain Dwarf Iris, Sandhill Iris. Phenology: Mar-May; May-Jun. Habitat: Longleaf pine sandhills, dry, rocky forests and woodlands. Distribution: Se. PA, e. MD, e. VA, e. and c. NC, e., c, and w. SC to e. GA, primarily on the Coastal Plain, but extending into the Piedmont and even rarely the low Mountains.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = F, FNA26, K4, RAB, Va; = Gattenhofia verna (L.) Medik. var. verna — Crespo, Martínez-Azorín, & Mavrodiev (2015); = n/a — Tat; < Iris verna L. — C, G, Pa, S13; < Neubeckia verna (L.) Alef. — S. Basionym: Iris verna L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Iris verna var. verna - FNA26
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Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Richard LeBlond CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Low-growing, rhizomatous perennial in coastal longleaf pine sandhills and dry rocky-sandy woodlands and roadsides.
Stems: Stems consist of creeping rhizomes, which are not usually visible at the soil surface; a few overlapping leaves and the flowering stock emerge from this.
Leaves: Leaves often emerging after flower, overlapping, linear and sheathing, to 4 in. long and 1/3 in. or less wide, stiff and smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers (1-2) emerge at top of short stalk; bluish to violet, consisting of 3 spreading-drooping, petal-like sepals marked with a bold, bumpy, yellow stripe with white edges down the middle, and 3 erect, spoon-shaped, unmarked petals.
Fruits: Fruit a 3-angled, ellipsoid to oblong capsule, about 1/2 in. long.
Comments: The very similar, related, Iris verna var. smalliana has wider leaves and is more likely to form colonies; it is found in the Piedmont and Mountains, not the Coastal Plain.
Height: 3-6 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Low-growing, rhizomatous perennial in coastal longleaf pine sandhills and dry rocky-sandy woodlands and roadsides.
stems: Stems consist of creeping rhizomes, which are not usually visible at the soil surface; a few overlapping leaves and the flowering stock emerge from this.
leaves: Leaves often emerging after flower, overlapping, linear and sheathing, to 4 in. long and 1/3 in. or less wide, stiff and smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers (1-2) emerge at top of short stalk; bluish to violet, consisting of 3 spreading-drooping, petal-like sepals marked with a bold, bumpy, yellow stripe with white edges down the middle, and 3 erect, spoon-shaped, unmarked petals.
fruits: Fruit a 3-angled, ellipsoid to oblong capsule, about 1/2 in. long.
comments: The very similar, related, Iris verna var. smalliana has wider leaves and is more likely to form colonies; it is found in the Piedmont and Mountains, not the Coastal Plain.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: southeastern United States
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