Iris pseudacorus (Pale-yellow Iris)
Also known as: | Yellow Flag |
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Genus: | Iris |
Family: | Iridaceae (Iris) |
Life cycle: | perennial |
Origin: | Eurasia |
Status: |
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Habitat: | part shade, sun; marshes, along shores |
Bloom season: | May - June |
Plant height: | 2 to 4 feet |
Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: OBL MW: OBL NCNE: OBL |
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): | ![]() |
National distribution (click map to enlarge): | ![]() |
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Detailed Information
Flower:
Flower is 3 to 4 inches across with 3 large petal-like sepals that hang down and 3 smaller upright petals. The lower sepals have a ring of reddish brown flecks near the base and are beardless. There are a few flowers at the end of each stalk.
Leaves:
Leaves are long and sword-like, about 1 inch wide and 3 to 4 feet long with a pointed tip. A group of leaves fans out from the base of the plant. The leaves are mostly longer than the flower stalk.
Fruit: 
Fruit is an oblong, 3 angled capsule around 2 to 3 inches long and 1/3 to ½ as wide.
Notes:
Pale-yellow Iris is an invasive species in Minnesota, escaping cultivation and potentially forming large colonies along shores and in shallow waters. It is most easily identified by the bright yellow flowers, but when flowers are not present, it can be distinguished from our native blue Irises by the leaves, which have a prominent midvein, where both of our natives have a more obscure midvein, the leaves nearly flat in cross-section.
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More photos
Pale Yellow Iris plant
more flowers
Pale Yellow Iris on a lakeshore
comparison of Iris pseudacorus and I. versicolor/virginica leaves
Photos by K. Chayka taken in Ramsey County.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2011-06-04 17:17:38
There are literally hundreds of the in my yard. The line the spring that feeds in to the south fork of the root river.
on: 2012-02-29 10:42:39
Ive seen this at Elm Creek Park Reserve, pretty Iris, actually would like some on my property. I see no comments on this, are people loving all Iris and not caring to post comments here? The Iris Ive witnesses in MN are slow to spread and maybe not that big of a control problem, maybe Im wrong. Anyone please feel free to reply!!
on: 2012-05-25 18:36:47
There are just a few that are in bloom now along the lake shore near the playground.
on: 2013-06-19 22:24:39
Saw several clusters of them while kayaking down the St Croix between Franconia and Osceola on June 16th.
on: 2019-05-14 20:04:00
I saw it a few years go in a drainage ditch between HWY 61 and the Carlton County Fairgrounds in Barnum.
on: 2021-06-06 21:40:43
Currently three separate clumps flowering on the south and south western edges of Bde Maka Ska (lake calhoun).
on: 2023-06-17 13:23:03
Spotted it June 17, 2023. what do you recommend to use to eradicate it?
on: 2023-06-17 17:00:25
HvHughes, the DNR includes some control info on their yellow iris species page.