Our Native Irises: Louisiana Irises
Iris fulva: Copper Iris
The copper iris occurs from southern Illinois, southeast Missouri and Kentucky south to Louisiana and east to Georgia.
In this small population, two color forms are present: the typical rusty orange and the atypical lemon yellow. Photo by Larry Stritch.
Range map of Iris fulva. Courtesy of the USDA PLANTS Database.
Iris fulva has a copper-red to brick red, and sometimes a yellow flower. The sepals are widely spreading and arching downward. The signal is a faint yellow and basal. The petals are spreading and pendulous, smaller than the sepals. The inflorescence is one- to two-flowered. The bright green leaves are basally arching, arising from shallowly rooted, narrow, compact, and branching rhizomes that can form large clumps.
Iris fulva exhibiting a myriad of color forms in this yellow and orange combination. Photo by Larry Stritch.
An unusual and stunning red-colored specimen of Iris fulva. Photo by Rodney Barton, North American Native Iris.
Iris fulva is commonly found growing in alluvial soils in swamps and wet meadows.
For More Information
A beautiful orange-red color form of Iris fulva. Photo Thomas G. Barnes, University of Kentucky.