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Iris virginica shrevei (Pint-sized plug)
Exposure: Full-partial sun
Soil: Wet-Medium
Mature Height: 3 feet
Blooms: May, June, or July
Notable Features: Usually grows in large patches that expand outward
from rhizomes. It is 2’-3’ high with the leaves on the flower stem growing
slightly taller than the flower. Bloom time is from late spring to early
summer. The bloom color is somewhat variable, but is most often a medium to
pale blue violet. Prefers full sun to
part shade and will not bloom well if it has more shade than sun. It grows best
in moist soils that are not too heavy but will tolerate some brief flooding
early in the season and moderate dryness in late summer.
Attracts: The
flowers are cross-pollinated by bumblebees and long-horned bees (Synhalonia
spp.); butterflies and skippers also visit the flowers occasionally, but
they are less effective at cross-pollination. These insects suck nectar from
the flowers primarily, although some of the bees also collect pollen.
Caterpillars of such moths as Ctenucha virginica (Virginia
Ctenucha), Spilosoma congrua (Agreeable Tiger Moth), and Macronoctua
onusta (Iris Borer Moth), also feed on these plants. Deer and rabbits
generally avoid it.
