Saturday, January 29

Perfect for zone 3-9, the purple blooms against the green leaves make this plant stand out among all the rest. TheIris Cristata falls into the Iris family because the height, width, colors and plant style closely resembles the Iris.

When you place the Iris Cristata in the midst of other green foliage it stands out like a sore thumb because of its gorgeous blue-violet blooms which can occasionally grow in white blooms as well. The Iris Cristata makes a lovely backdrop to any landscape or flower bed.

The Iris can reach heights of up to 6-8 inches and the flower blooms when in full bloom can reach widths of up to 15 inches. The Iris is also one of those plants that can be cut before the bloom actually opens so that it can be enjoyed indoors for a lovely table centerpiece.

The Iris Cristata can be found in the floodplains from Maryland to Georgia and loves to grow in the cracks of sandstone. It prefers rich and well drained soil in partial sun to full sun but must be kept watered. The Iris Cristata is great for a groundcover or seasonal flower beds or rock gardens to add color.

The only problem with having this plant is the fact that snails and slugs love this Iris, and if not taken off immediately they can eat your Iris Cristata and suck out all of the nutrients. This flower can make a great picture or look when planted in a group because of the way it spreads and looks when it is grown in a group. The Iris Cristata requires medium maintenance and is a rarely easy plant to take care of.