Find Your Ask the Expert: can you identify this flower?
Hi —
We live in southern Wisconsin, and built a home four years ago on what once was a pasture for cattle and hogs.
This flower has been here since we moved in — the leaves looked like iris leaves, but the plant never boomed –so I planted other things around it and started to care for the plant.
Now it’s just about to bloom, but I don’t know what it is!
Any clues? Wendy
Pictures added by Wendy
Wendy,
I think you have a Bearded Iris based on the foliage. I won’t be able to tell exactly until I see the bloom open. Did you happen to see the rhizome of the iris? All bearded Iris have a rhizome and if it is covered with to much soil or mulch it can inhibit blooming. Also, blooming may be occurring because you are taking care of the area and giving it adequate water and fertilizer. How long have you lived there? I would say that insufficient light may play a part in the blooming. Notice how the bloom is stretching towards the light. That may be why it only has one bloom stock. Please keep me posted. If you can send me a picture when the bloom opens I would appreciate it.
Thank you! I’ll save the link and see if anyone else comments. The
flower looks very tissue-like, and off-white as a bud.
Do you think this is a native plant? There’s no companion nearby,
though the plant just seems quite old.
Anything you can tell me would be much appreciated!
Wendy
Wendy,
Depending on where you live it could be native. There is a neat site that lists some Iris native to North America with photos of the iris and what state they are native in. You can go to http://facstaff.hsc.unt.edu/rbarton/Iris/NANI.html. Keep me posted
Hi —
Here’s the iris!
It’s lovely — and it sure looks like someone must have planted it
long ago. Do you know if this might somehow be a native flower? This
part of our land has never had a home or garden, and was a pasture for
many years.
Thanks so much!
Wendy
See pictures above
Wendy
See the beard in the red box, this tell us that you have a bearded Iris. It was probably planted by someone rather than being native but it is hard to tell.
Hello Wendy,
It looks like an Iris to me. Possibly a Lady Slipper if it is indeed a native species. It might have been planted by some happy wanderer leaving the Riley Tavern. Let me know if I am correct.I would have contacted you earlier but I was busy with the rabbits eating my lillies this year.
Take Care
John Eaglesham