Iris oxypetala is an East Asian iris with pale violet flowers and narrow leaves that twist two or three times along their length. It isn't native to the US. Some botanists include it in the broader species Iris lactea, known in the US as milky iris.
Appearance
- Growth form
- A clump-forming perennial that spreads from creeping underground stems, about 12–20 in (30–50 cm) tall.
- Leaves
- Narrow, grayish-green, grasslike leaves up to about 28 in (70 cm) long that twist two or three times.
- Flowers
- Pale violet flowers about 1.5–2.5 in (4–6 cm) across, two to four per stem.
- Fruit
- A narrow, ribbed seed capsule with a pointed, beaklike tip.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Dry hillsides
- Grasslands
- Range
- Native to East Asia, including China and Korea. It isn't native to the US, though the broader milky iris (Iris lactea) is grown in some American gardens.
- Preferred conditions
- Grows in dry places.
Growing it
- Care
- Milky iris (Iris lactea in the broad sense) is listed as hardy in USDA Zones 3–9 and is said to tolerate salty soils.
Name and classification
- About the name
- Often listed as Iris lactea var. chinensis. Some botanists now treat it as its own species, Iris oxypetala, while others keep it within Iris lactea; the question isn't settled yet.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
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