Iris fulva
Iris fulva is part of the Iridaceae family of plants. It is a rhizomatous perennial. They also call it the Copper Iris. It is native to the southern and central United States.
It was original discovered on the banks of the Mississippi River, in 1811. The name fulva is from Latin and means “tawny orange”. Iris fulva described by John Bellenden Ker Gawler, in 1812.
Iris fulva grows from a greenish-brown rhizome. It has fibrous roots and shallow-rooted. It grows into clumps. The leaves grow in autumn and last through winter into spring. The leaves are blade-like and green. There are some leaves on the flower stems.
It has erect flower stems with 1 or 2 branches. Iris fulva flowers in late spring and early summer. It could have four to six flowers per stem. The flowers are fragrant. They are deep red in color. Iris fulva has six petals. The petals droop from the center. Both falls and standards are drooping. The base of the flower is yellowish in color. The seedpods are capsules. The seeds are flat.
How to grow Iris fulva:
Grow it in the sun, Plant it in moist or wet soils near ponds. It tolerates frost. It flowers poorly where the summers are cool. They can also be planted in water but should be covered with gravel to stop them from floating or being damaged by fish. Propagate by division in late summer. It can be propagated by seed but takes a long time. Iris fulva is pollinated by hummingbirds. The leaves and roots are highly toxic.
Other synonyms for Iris fulva include:
Iris cupraea
Iris ecristata
Iris fulvaurea
Iris rubescens
Limniris fulva
Neubeckia fulva
