Iris versicolor (Harlequin Blueflag): Minnesota Wildflowers

Iris versicolor (Harlequin Blueflag)

Plant Info
Also known as:	Blueflag Iris
Genus:	Iris
Family:	Iridaceae (Iris)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	part shade, sun; wet meadows, marshes, along shores
Bloom season:	May - August
Plant height:	1 to 3 feet
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are a typical Iris shape, 3 to 4 inches across, blue to blue-violet. The 3 large drooping petal-like sepals fade to white at the base, with a spot of yellow near the throat and dark blue-purple veins radiating from it. The upper lip of the sepal is shorter and shaped like a shoehorn, curving up. The sepals are hairless. 3 petals smaller than the sepals stand more erect in the center. There are 1 to a few flowers on a stalk.

Leaves:

Leaves are sword-like, about 1 inch wide and 1 to 3 feet long with a pointed tip. A group of leaves fans out from the base of the plant. Leaves may grow taller than the flower.

Fruit:

Fruit is a 3-angled, cylindrical capsule up to 2½ inches long. It can persist through winter.

Notes:

There are a few species similar to Harlequin Blueflag. Of those that grow in Minnesota, Virginia Iris (I. virginica) most closely resembles it. It has hairy (bearded) sepals.

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Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

Photos taken at Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park, Shoreview, MN June and August 2008

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Bill in Itassca county
on: 2010-01-25 16:22:35

We have the blue flag all around the small lake we have a cabin on. Sometimes they are so thick that the shore line is blue... We love the wild flowers that pop up on our 40 acres every year.

Posted by: Chris in Coon Rapids
on: 2010-07-02 16:03:45

Saw the Harlequin Blueflag last week while exploring in the Boundary waters (kawishiwi river). Very beautiful!

Posted by: Alison in St. Paul, MN
on: 2010-07-19 15:02:22

Blueflag iris can be found at Lilydale Regional park.

Posted by: Wendy in McGregor area
on: 2011-06-27 21:01:31

These are all over along highway 65 heading north into McGregor!

Posted by: Stan in North Branch Minnesota - Chain Lake ( South )
on: 2011-06-30 18:32:41

This plant came up on its own about 2 feet up from the 100 yr high water mark of 907.7 elevation. I have been here 7 years and this is the 1st time I have seen this Iris. I am curious how it got there. The soil here is very sandy. The shoreline was 50 feet from here last year. Extremely dry past 5 years. In 2004 The lake was 11 feet. By 2010 it was 5 fee deep. Jun 29 2010 at 10 feet. With heavy snow and rain It is up 5 feet from last year and almost back to normal elevation 907.7.

Posted by: Allan in Minneapolis
on: 2011-07-13 12:59:41

We have a few of these around Cedar Lake here in Minneapolis.

Posted by: Ruth in Cook County
on: 2011-07-25 17:23:17

These grow on the edge of small streams as they flow into Lake Superior, west of Hovland.