Blue flag

What does Blue flag look like?

Blue flag is a perennial iris that grows in clumps from thick, spreading rhizomes. Its upright stems reach between 10 and 80 centimeters tall. The leaves are flat and fan-shaped, folded along the midrib, and usually over a centimeter wide. Its flowers have six spreading segments, with the outer ones marked by a greenish-yellow patch at the base. The blooms are most often blue or purple, but can show a range of shades. After flowering, the plant produces a three-sided capsule with large seeds that float on water.

Where does Blue flag come from?

This iris is native to the wetlands, meadows, and stream banks of eastern Canada and the eastern United States. It thrives in damp soils and is often found in marshy places. The species name 'versicolor' refers to the variety of colors its flowers can display. Blue flag has been recognized in scientific studies, including its use as a sample species in early statistical research by Ronald Fisher. Over time, it has become a familiar wildflower and garden plant in its home range.

When and how Blue flag blooms

Blue flag blooms from May to July. It grows best in moist, rich soils, especially in areas that stay wet or near water. The plant spreads through its rhizomes, forming dense clumps over time. Seeds are released in the fall, often floating away on water to new locations. Gardeners sometimes grow it for its attractive flowers and ability to thrive in wet spots.

How Blue flag is used

While blue flag is poisonous if eaten, especially to livestock, it has a history of use by Native Americans. They applied preparations from the plant to treat burns, wounds, and swelling, and sometimes used it internally for various ailments. In folk traditions, the root was carried for luck or placed in shops for prosperity. Today, it is mainly valued as a wildflower and as a symbol for Quebec and Tennessee.

Kinds of Blue flag

Blue flag is one of several North American iris species, and is sometimes confused with other wild irises. It is known by many names, including water flag and harlequin blueflag. The purple form is especially recognized in Tennessee and Quebec as a floral emblem.

What Blue flag means

Blue flag holds official status as the provincial flower of Quebec and is widely accepted as the state flower of Tennessee, though the law there does not specify a particular iris species. It also represents the Kappa Pi International Honorary Art Fraternity. The plant’s varied color and wetland habitat make it a familiar sight in art and regional identity.

Where Blue flag is used and seen

BouquetA creative arrangement of flowers, given or displayed for many occasionsThe Daffodil FestivalPierce County’s spring parade and daffodil celebration since 1934Hakone Botanical Garden of WetlandsA garden of wetland and alpine plants in Hakone, JapanParc floral de ParisA botanical garden and flower park in the Bois de Vincennes, ParisParc Floral de la SourceA large public garden in Orléans built around the source of the Loiret riverKeukenhofA vast Dutch flower garden famous for its spring tulip displaysKanzashiTraditional Japanese hair ornaments, often crafted as folded silk flowersHanafudaJapanese playing cards with flower designs used for traditional games

Questions people ask about Blue flag

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesIUCN Red List, Article
• USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
• Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
• Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
• Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database

• Iris versicolor on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data