Yellow Flag Iris
Iris pseudacorus.
This is the wild iris and great coloniser of wet ground and shallow water. I have never planted this in my garden, but the variegated variety which I did plant often reverts, and I have stands of it!
Every year I pull lots or there would be little else in the ponds! I also have to remember to cut the seeding stems off before they ripen, it's not fussy about where it grows, and seedling pop up in my dry borders!
Another name is 'Sword flag', as the leaves can cut if handled carelessly.
The word Iris is Greek for 'rainbow', and we have all seen the fab photos of the gorgeous blowsy cultivars that folk have posted here; Tara put a beaut up the other day.
They are pollinated mainly by bees.
There is a lot of history connected with this flower as an heraldic device.
The story I like best is of Clovis, the first person to wear the iris in this way. He became king of the Franks in the late 5th century, drove the Romans out of Gaul, was converted to Christianity, and changed the three toads on his banner for three yellow irises!
And of course six centuries later the iris was adopted by Louis VII in the fleur-de-lys which he wore in his crusade against the Saracens...'lys' is a corruption of Louis.
Yellow Flag Iris
Iris pseudacorus.
This is the wild iris and great coloniser of wet ground and shallow water. I have never planted this in my garden, but the variegated variety which I did plant often reverts, and I have stands of it!
Every year I pull lots or there would be little else in the ponds! I also have to remember to cut the seeding stems off before they ripen, it's not fussy about where it grows, and seedling pop up in my dry borders!
Another name is 'Sword flag', as the leaves can cut if handled carelessly.
The word Iris is Greek for 'rainbow', and we have all seen the fab photos of the gorgeous blowsy cultivars that folk have posted here; Tara put a beaut up the other day.
They are pollinated mainly by bees.
There is a lot of history connected with this flower as an heraldic device.
The story I like best is of Clovis, the first person to wear the iris in this way. He became king of the Franks in the late 5th century, drove the Romans out of Gaul, was converted to Christianity, and changed the three toads on his banner for three yellow irises!
And of course six centuries later the iris was adopted by Louis VII in the fleur-de-lys which he wore in his crusade against the Saracens...'lys' is a corruption of Louis.