The butterfly or spuria iris are unequaled for hardiness, dependable bloom, and usefulness as cut flowers.
In moist climates, their foliage may be subject to spotting like the bearded iris, but their tall sword-like leaves are attractive through the greater part of the year in most sections of the country.
Butterfly Iris Species
Like those of the Louisiana types, Butterfly iris species are found along waterways.
Their seeds are enclosed in a parchment-like, air-filled envelope which, like the cork covering of the Iris hexagona, permits them to float, thus assuring their distribution along the boundaries of the rivers.
These iris will tolerate great amounts of water, but, like most plant life found along rivers that can become dry in drought, the spurias will go unharmed through long dry spells.
Growing In Difficult Locations
Recently, the amazing development of southern Arizona and Texas, especially in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and the Houston region, has caused a home garden demand for flowers adapted to the climate.
Bearded iris grows with difficulty, if at all in this area, but beardless species have become welcome garden subjects.
Spurias will grow in all parts of the country and are much less particular about soil and other factors than most members of the iris family.
Related: Simple Tips On How To Grow Fine Iris
Notable Characteristics
Ranging in size from 2′ to over 5′ feet in height, the ideal spuria stalk has 4 pairs of buds attached to the main stem by diminutive “branches.”
The flowers are similar in form and size to the largest of the Dutch iris.
The color range is from white (with yellow signal) through all shades of yellow and bronze to deep brown and from palest blue to dark blue, including some lilac tones.
New Hybrid Spurias
The beautiful new hybrid spurias, whose development was carried to such heights by the late Eric Nies, have proved to be exciting, indeed.
Perhaps the finest of the Nies hybrids now available are the ruffled Two Opals in tones of blue and coffee and Larksong, which has white standards and yellow falls edged with white.
Another outstanding variety is Carl Milliken’s Wadi Zem Zem, which has remarkably large flowers of greenish-buff.
Butterfly Iris Infections
Like many members of the iris family, the butterfly iris is subject to virus infection.
Torn Craig, a noted hybridizer of the west coast, has introduced some excellent new spurias, and states that the blue-flowered varieties are particularly susceptible to virus infections.
However, I have found that most spurias survive the virus infection with good food and care.
Blooming Season
In the north, the spuria bloom usually follows the bearded iris. In the south, it comes at the same time.
Nevertheless, you may extend your iris season by planting butterfly iris.
In the south, their blooming period lasts for about 2 months. In the north, the spurias take their place in the middle of the iris parade.
Headed by Iris reliculata, the Dutch, dwarf bearded, intermediate bearded, tall bearded, Siberian, spuria, Louisiana, Japanese, and vesper iris follow in a close-ranked procession of lovely color.