Flower encyclopedia

Iris: Meaning, Types & Care Guide

Iris flowers have three upright standards and three hanging falls. Dutch iris is the main commercial cut.

Iris at a glance

Iris is a large genus. Florists most often sell Dutch irises (Iris × hollandica) as cut stems in purple, blue, yellow and white. Bearded garden irises are a different, shorter-lived cut. Traditional symbolism includes faith, hope and wisdom. Cut Dutch irises are a cool-season item.

Flower: Iris
Botanical name: Iris
Family: Iridaceae
Colours: Purple / blue, Yellow, White
Typical season: Cool-season cut flower; garden bearded irises follow in late spring.
Fragrance: Dutch cuts are usually light; some garden irises are fragrant.
Popular for: sympathy, congratulations, get-well
Vase life: Moderate; buds open in the vase over several days.

What is a iris?

The name comes from the Greek word for rainbow, reflecting the colour range.

Dutch irises are bulb crops forced for late winter and spring shops. Garden bearded irises peak later in spring and do not ship as well.

Origin: Northern Hemisphere temperate regions; Dutch iris is a hybrid group. · Habitat: Gardens and bulb-forcing houses.

What does a iris mean?

European heraldry and Victorian lists link iris with faith, hope, wisdom and eloquence. The French fleur-de-lis is historically associated with iris (or lily — historians debate the emblem).

Iris colours

Purple / blue

Wisdom and royalty in traditional lists

Often chosen for sympathy, congratulations

Yellow

Passion or hope depending on the list

Often chosen for get-well

White

Purity

Often chosen for sympathy

Iris varieties

Dutch iris

The slender florist cut stem.

Bearded iris

Garden plant with fuzzy falls; poor traveller as a cut.

When is iris in season?

Northern shops see Dutch iris mainly in late winter and spring.

USA
A spring florist stem; bearded irises stay in gardens.
UK
Dutch iris is a familiar spring bunch.
europe
Major bulb-forcing crop.
canada
Imported spring stem.
australia
Local spring window is reversed.
UAE
Imported in the northern cool season.

Seasonal flower calendar →

How to care for iriss

Recut, keep cool, and allow pointed buds to open. Avoid heat.

Pet safety: Iris is listed as toxic if ingested (especially rhizomes). Keep away from pets that chew.

Pollen: Generally moderate.

Iriss for different occasions

Purple iris can feel respectful without defaulting to funeral white lilies.

sympathy congratulations

Shop iris arrangements

Browse the live catalog for bouquets and gifts that include iriss.

View iris products

Iris delivery

BlossomPot lists delivery destinations we actually publish. US city pages are gift-delivery destinations. Canada, Australia and Europe city pages explain how to send gifts from those cities to a US address — they are not local florist storefronts we do not operate.