Giant blue iris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Giant blue iris |
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| Wild blue iris blooming in swamp at Barataria Preserve, Louisiana | |
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Iris
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| Species: |
giganticaerulea
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The Iris giganticaerulea, also known as the giant blue iris, is a beautiful type of iris flower. It belongs to a group called Hexagonae. This plant grows from thick underground stems called rhizomes. It is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. You can find it growing naturally in North America.
This iris has long, bright green leaves and very tall stems. It usually has one or two flowers that smell like musk. The flowers come in many shades of blue. These include pale blue, lavender blue, bright blue, dark blue, and even violet blue. Sometimes, you might even spot a rare white one!
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About the Giant Blue Iris
The Iris giganticaerulea is the biggest type of iris in the Louisiana Iris family. Its common name, 'Giant blue iris', really fits its size!
This iris has very large green rhizomes, which are like thick underground stems. They can be 13 to 30 centimeters (5 to 12 inches) long. These rhizomes grow close to the surface. They have marks from old leaves and many branches. They can form a big clump or colony, growing up to 182 x 91 centimeters (6 x 3 feet) wide.
From the base of the plant, 4 to 6 bright green leaves grow. They are shaped like swords. These leaves can be 50 to 76 centimeters (20 to 30 inches) long. They are about 4 centimeters (1.5 inches) wide.
The stems of the giant blue iris are very tall. They can reach heights of 70 to 180 centimeters (28 to 71 inches). Each stem can have 2 or 3 branches. At the end of these branches, 1 or 2 flowers bloom. A single plant can have up to 12 flowers in total.
The giant blue iris blooms in early to mid-spring. This usually happens between March and April. Its flowers have a musky scent.
The flowers come in many blue colors. These include pale blue, lavender blue, bright blue, dark blue, and violet blue. Occasionally, you might see a white or yellowish-white flower.
Each flower is usually 13 to 15 centimeters (5 to 6 inches) wide. It has 6 petals. The 3 outer petals are called 'falls'. They flare out and arch downwards. They often have a white, yellow, or light orange patch. The 3 inner petals are called 'standards'. They stand upright and are narrower than the falls.
How the Giant Blue Iris Got its Name
The Iris giganticaerulea is commonly known as the 'Giant blue iris'. It is also sometimes called the 'Giant blue flag'.
This plant was first officially named and described in 1929. It was named by John Kunkel Small, a scientist from the New York Botanical Garden. He published his findings in a journal called 'Addisonia'.
Later, in 1937, another scientist named Foster thought it was just a type of Iris hexagona. So, he renamed it 'Iris hexagona var. giganticaerulea'. But in 1966, Randolph looked at it again. He decided it was its own separate species.
For many years, there was a big discussion about what the state flower of Louisiana should be. Finally, in 1990, they made a decision. The Southern magnolia became the state flower. And the Iris giganticaerulea was chosen as the official state wildflower of Louisiana.
The United States Department of Agriculture confirmed this plant's classification. They did this on April 4, 2003, and updated it on December 2, 2004.
Where Does the Giant Blue Iris Live?
This iris is native to North America. It grows naturally in certain areas.
You can find Iris giganticaerulea in Alabama, Louisiana, eastern Texas, and Mississippi in the United States. It mainly grows on the west side of the Mississippi River.
It prefers to grow in shallow freshwater. You can often see it in ditches along roadsides. It also thrives in clearings within swamps, including cypress swamps. You might find it in wet meadows and marshes too. This iris can even handle slightly salty water, known as brackish water.
Growing Your Own Giant Blue Iris
Most Louisiana irises, including the giant blue iris, need similar conditions to grow well. They like full sunlight or partial shade. The soil should be moist and a bit acidic, with a pH level around 6.5. It also needs to have lots of rich organic material.
For the best flowers, the plant needs plenty of moisture. This is especially true from late autumn through spring (October to May). This is when the plant starts to grow new leaves. You can give them a light feeding during these months if needed.
The easiest way to grow more of these irises is by dividing their rhizomes. This is best done in early autumn or early spring. At these times, the plants are not actively growing. Before planting, prepare the ground by adding lots of organic material. Dig the soil about 15 centimeters (6 inches) deep. This gives new roots room to grow. You should divide the plants every 3 to 4 years. This helps them produce many good flowers.
If you use fertilizer, sprinkle it around the plant in late January or February. Do this before the plant starts to flower.
New plants need a layer of mulch. This helps protect them from too much sun. It is also good to add mulch in winter.
Growing irises from seed is possible but takes a long time. Seeds can take many months to sprout, sometimes 3 to 12 months. Only about half of the seeds usually grow. Then, it can take 3 to 5 years for the new plants to produce flowers.
You should collect seeds from the plant after it flowers. Make sure the seed pods are mature. Store the seeds in paper bags. Seeds stored in glass containers often get moldy.
The Iris giganticaerulea is considered too delicate to grow easily in the UK. It needs moist, acidic soils, warm summers, and mild winters.
This iris is hardy in USDA Zones 7 to 11. This means it can survive winters in these areas. In Zones 5 and 6, it might need protection during winter.
You can often find this plant at garden centers that specialize in water plants.
Amazing Iris Hybrids
The Iris giganticaerulea can easily mix with other Louisiana irises. This creates new types of irises called hybrids.
Many plant nurseries and breeders in America have created new varieties, called cultivars. These include 'Angel Wings', 'Atrocyanea', 'Barbara Elaine Taylor', 'Bayou Barataria', 'Bayou Boeuf', 'Bayou St John', 'Bette Lee', 'Billy Mac', 'Biloxi', 'Cameron White', 'China Blue', 'Citricristata', 'Citricristata Alba', 'Citriviola', 'Coteau Holmes', 'Creole Can-Can', 'Easter Surprise', 'Elephantina', 'Excitement', 'Florence Zacharie', 'Gentilly Road', 'Gheen's White', 'Giganticaerulea Alba', 'Giganticaerulea Royal', 'Gulf Mist', 'Her Highness', 'High Hat', 'Iberville', 'Isle Bonne', 'Joe Mac', 'Kildea', 'La Bahia ', 'Lafitte', 'La Premiere', 'Laughing Water', 'Lazy Day', 'Longfellow's Gabriel', 'Mandeville', 'Miraculosa', 'Paludicola', 'Ruth Holleyman', 'Silverblu ', 'Snow Flag', 'Snow Goose', 'Southern Accent','Spanish Fort', and 'Trixie'.
Another interesting cross is with the Iris fulva. This mix created a hybrid called 'Iris × vinicolor' Small.
