FNPS Plant Database

Iris savannarum

prairie iris, savanna iris
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

prairie iris, savanna iris

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Iris savannarum

Family:

Iridaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

3-4 ft tall by 0.5-1 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white,purple,lavender

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Winter dormant. Blooms in spring. Fruits ripen by summer.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Moist wildflower garden. Sometimes grown under the drain for an air conditioner. Excellent as a wetland edge flower.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Division of roots.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators

Attracts bees esp. bumblebees.

Native Habitats:

Marshes, wet prairie, dome swamps, riverine swamps in openings.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

This iris and I. hexagona were considered to be a single species until recently.  I. savannarum is the most common iris species in Florida.

Citations:

Huegel, Craig, N.  2012.  Native wildflowers and other ground covers for Florida landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL. (has the plant listed as I. hexagona )



https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/iris/about.shtml (pollinators).



Nelson, Gil.  2003.  Florida's Best Landscape Plants. Association of Florida Native Nurseries.



Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A gardener's guide to Florida's native Plants.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Wikipedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_savannarum



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants (http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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