Iris Prismatica
Iris Prismatica is a native to New England and Eastern Canada. It is commonly confused with the native Iris Versicolor (see below). Prismatica is stoloniferous with delicate leaves, stems, and flowers. It prefers moist sandy soil and is commonly found in brackish or salt marshes and flats, fresh tidal marshes or flats, marshes, meadows and fields, shores of rivers or lakes. Provided that these natural habitat have not been destroyed by the invasive Iris Pseudacorus (The Yellow Flag). Prismatica can manages in ordinary garden soil, but will show its best as an edition to a pond or water feature. This blue iris forms narrow sword-like foliage less than 1/2" wide and grows to 1-2' tall from thick creeping rhizomes. The elegant flowers of Blue Iris are 2-4" across and light to deep blue and blooms from May to July. Here in Connecticut, this iris graces us with fields of blue in mid June. The typical color is medium blue-violet but it can also be white, lavender-pink, maroon, and light blue.
Iris Versicolor
Iris Versicolor is a North American wildflower found from SE Canada through the northers Midwest to North Carolina and throughout New England of the U.S. In the wild it grows in wet meadows, marches, highway drainage ditches, and even on sandy beaches where there is running fresh water. Though it is member of the series Laevigatae and is called a “water iris”, it does not require constant moisture and can thrive in conditions similar to Siberians (information button above). One of its best features is the generous amount of bloom on gracefully curved stems with charming bud placement. The foliage can be a bit coarse late in the season.