Blue and Yellow Iris Flowering in Pennsylvania

While driving along a country road in the mountains the other day, I happened upon a few striking clumps of blue flags, also known as blue iris. I’ve previously posted about the alien yellow iris that we have growing wild in Central Pennsylvania.

The deep colors of this blue iris certainly were eye-catching. These flowers were beautifully displayed at the side of a country road. Perhaps someone planted them there years ago. They appear to be a form of the Bearded Iris, Iris germanica, which isn’t native to North America.

A different plant, called the Larger Blue Iris, Iris versicolor, is native to North America, and it can be found growing wild from Canada south to Ohio and Virginia. You’d be more likely to find this native iris in wet meadows, marshes and swampy places. Its upright petals and falling sepals are not as wide as the german bearded irises, which are represented in the photos below. The Larger Blue Iris has large petals that are held vertically but do not fold over the top of the center of the flower like many of the colorful irises available at garden centers. It also has veins of yellow among its striking colors of blue and white.

Bearded Blue Iris flowers beside a mountain road.
Bearded Blue Iris flowers beside a mountain road. Photo taken 28 April 2012.

Just as with its cousin, the Yellow Iris, I. pseudacorus, the growth habit is in clumps. Several sword-like leaves arranged in a fan-shape are at the base of the plant. The whole plant may reach 2-3 feet tall with the leaves being somewhat shorter than the flower stalk.

Flower stalks emerge from a clump of sword like leaves in the blue iris.
Flower stalks emerge from a clump of sword like leaves in the blue iris. Photo taken 28 April 2012.

Each flower stem is smooth and round and usually gives rise to more than one flower. Flowers emerge from a tightly rolled bud.

(Click on any photo to see a larger image.)

Looking down on an iris flower stalk. Notice the flower bud that will bloom tomorrow.
Looking down on an iris flower stalk. Notice the flower bud that will bloom tomorrow. Photo taken 28 April 2012.

Each iris flower looks great for one day and then fades to let another take its place the next day.

Side view of the bearded blue iris. Note the rounded flower stalk and flower buds yet to open.
Side view of the bearded blue iris. Note the rounded flower stalk and flower buds yet to open. Photo taken 28 April 2012.

The bearded irises have a streak of fuzziness along the midline of the falling sepals. The photo above highlights the white beard on these particular flowers.

The day that these pretty blue iris flowers made me stop along the road, privet shrubs were blooming and giving off their sweet smell of Spring.

Yellow Flags Flower Down by the River

A friend gave us a few plants a couple of years ago, but not a store-bought variety. His property is next to the Juniata River and one of his favorite past times is to go down to the river and see what he can find. Sometimes he’ll come back up the hill with buckets of minnows or baby catfish that would then be raised in fish tanks. River rock and driftwood are common finds and so are plastic chairs and other sundry items that get washed downstream during heavy rains. Once in a while he’ll venture far enough to dig up flowering plants that he usually transplants near his goldfish pond.

We were lucky to receive these beautiful yellow flags or yellow irises. The plants get about three feet tall, but many of the sword like leaves arch over to a foot or two tall. From year to year the iris plants get bigger and this year they flowered the most in their three years here on the mountain ridge. I think last year each plant had one flower stalk with 1 – 3 blooms. This year there are five flower stalks among two clumps of iris planted in different areas. Each flower stalk had 1-5 flowers.

Yellow iris foliage and flower buds.
Yellow iris foliage and flower buds.
Three flower buds of the yellow flag or yellow iris.
Three flower buds of the yellow flag or yellow iris.

Three flower buds are apparent in the images above. Photos taken 2 May 2010.

Beardless yellow iris flowers. Photo taken 7 May 2010.
Beardless yellow iris flowers. Photo taken 7 May 2010.

The yellow flag is typical of Iris species, where the large yellow “petals” that are veined with purple and that arch downward are really the sepals. Smaller upward pointing petals are the true petals. Inside to the petals are three styles, which look like smaller erect petals. The yellow flag has purple lines on the large bright yellow sepals and a lighter yellow color on the other flower parts.

Even though the yellow flags, that were found down by the river, seemed to be a natural plant there, the Iris pseudacorus is not native to the United States. Yellow irises are native to Europe and the specimens that we find along rivers and creeks are garden escapees. We could also say the yellow flags are naturalized to our area in South-central PA.

Somehow it feels good to have re-captured a wayside plant. We can enjoy its beautiful yellow blossoms and sword like foliage whenever we’re outside the house.

There is no indication in Peterson’s Edible Plant Guide or Peterson’s Medical Plants Guide that the yellow flag has any edible or medicinal value. Beyond its appeal as a garden member, its long linear leaves could be used to make small baskets for collecting berries and cones. The leaves also lend themselves as natural additions to cut flower arrangements.

In the autumn the iris plants can be separated into individual fans and re-planted. Use a sharp spade to slice through the roots in between the small groups or fans of leaves. Or, dig up the entire plant and use a sharp knife or shovel to separate the fans, roots and all. Transplant to new area, water and mulch. Look forward to next year’s blooms!

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Golden Ragwort Blooming at the Creek’s Edge

Golden Ragwort, Senecio aureus, is a small aster-like wildflower in the daisy family. Ragworts bloom earlier in the year than other yellow-flowered daisies, so you won’t get it mixed up with other yellow flowers.

Golden ragwort is differentiated from other members of the genus Senecio by its leaves.

Heart-shaped basal leaves of golden ragwort.
Heart-shaped basal leaves of golden ragwort.

Colony of golden ragwort growing in gravel next to a small creek. Note the heart-shaped basal leaves.

Golden ragwort leaves and stalks.
Golden ragwort leaves and stalks.

The outside of the flower heads are a deep purple color as are the stems.

Golden ragwort flower stalks rise over a foot tall.
Golden ragwort flower stalks rise over a foot tall.

Flower stalks rise up and hold the flower heads some 12 to 20 inches above the leaves and even higher when the flowers are in bloom. My walking stick is marked off in inch increments. The top black section measures 20 inches from the ground. (Photo directly above and the remaining photos were taken 30 April 2010. The first two photos were taken 18 April 2010.)

Rounded basal leaves of golden ragwort.
Rounded basal leaves of golden ragwort.

Leaves at the bottom of the stems are rounded or heart-shaped with rounded teeth.

Toothed upper leaves of golden ragwort are narrow and divided.
Toothed upper leaves of golden ragwort are narrow and divided.

Leaves higher up the stems are cut or dissected and they get more narrow, but they retain the rounded teeth. Leaves right below the flower heads are very narrow and more finely cut.

Golden ragwort flower head.
Golden ragwort flower head.

Note the purple outsides of the flower heads before the golden ragwort blooms.

Golden ragwort blooming.
Golden ragwort blooming.

Half of the golden ragwort flowers are open.

Looking down on the golden ragwort flowers.
Looking down on the golden ragwort flowers.

Golden yellow rays are sparsely situated around the center disc flowers in this composite flower.

Another golden ragwort plant blooming by the creek.
Another golden ragwort plant blooming by the creek.

Habitat for golden ragwort includes wetland areas, like that found next to this creek. The Peterson Wildflower Guide states that swamps and wet meadows are other likely places to find Golden Ragwort.