The Iris Plant

Iris Plant: Traditions and Beliefs

For ages, people have commented upon these flowers that grow along the banks of rivers and lakes, and bloom in all the colors of the rainbow. For this reason, they were dubbed “irises,” in honor of the goddess Iris, who transported messages between mortals and the Mount Olympus deities, Iris also means “rainbow” in Greek. In some languages, irises are called flags or sword flags, being symbols of heraldry and royalty, hence the original “Fleur de lis” of heraldry. In Japan irises play a major role in the spring festival for boys, because the shape of this flower is seen to express heroism and the blue color signifies blue blood. In nature, one finds an enormous number of colors and shades that are characteristic of the iris - from white and yellow to green and black.

Facts about the Iris Plant

• Irises are bulbous perennials, native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region.
• Irises are among the easiest of perennials to grow, and they give an abundance of beauty with minimum care. They do not suffer much from pests and are seldom affected by diseases, root rot is the most common one. Most irises love full sun, while excessive shade can cause poor flowering. Though, some shade in the afternoon is necessary to keep flower colors from fading in very hot areas. Irises should be planted in an area with good air circulation to prevent disease problems. They don’t require the richest soil or heavy fertilizing.
• Irises spread quickly and can even overcome other flowers in the garden, so they need to be thinned or divided regularly.
• The astringent rhizome of Iris has diuretic, purgative and emetic properties.