Species zigzag iris
Blue flower with yellow-white center, green leaves and brown stems.

zigzag iris

Iris brevicaulis

The zigzag iris (Iris brevicaulis) is a species of flowering plant native to the eastern United States. It grows low to the ground, with long, clump-forming green foliage. The blooms from mid-spring to early summer have five purplish-blue petals with a distinctive zig-zag pattern. The blooms are often fragrant and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. This hardy plant tolerates adverse conditions like drought, standing water, and most soil types. The zigzag iris is popular for use in border and rock gardens, as well as naturalized areas.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Cormlet Propagation,Seed Propagation,Offsets,Cutting

Hardiness Zone:

4 - 8

Flowers:

Deep bluish purple with yellow-crested falls Flowers In Summer

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Moderate

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Zigzag iris (Iris brevicaulis) is an attractive perennial that will bring a pop of color to the garden, provided it is given the right care. This plant should be watered weekly during the growing season (spring and summer). Water at the base near the crown of the plant, taking care to avoid wetting the foliage. Use enough water to moisten the entire root ball. The soil should not be soggy, just moist. Reduce watering in the winter months when the plant is dormant.

sunlight

Zigzag iris (Iris brevicaulis) plants prefer areas that provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. The ideal time to receive this is early in the morning and late in the afternoon when the sunlight is not too intense. This species appreciates partial shade as well, but if the location receives less light overall, it will have a hard time blooming or survive in its entirety. During extremely hot summer days it may be beneficial to provide a slight shade to avoid sun-scorching of the leaves.

pruning

The zigzag iris (Iris brevicaulis) should be pruned once a year, typically in late autumn or early winter. It is important to prune the plant back so that it will remain short and manageable. To prune, remove old and damaged foliage from the outer sections of the plant, but be sure to leave some growth on the crown. Because the zigzag iris can become a bit leggy, it is important to prune the sides of the plant to reduce its height and allow for new growth. Overall, it is best to keep the pruning to a minimum to ensure the safety of the flowers.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

The zigzag iris typically starts flowering in April.

Hardiness Map