Walking Iris

The blooms of Walking Iris can take you by surprise. Unlike other plants that send up obvious flower stalks and bloom heads that slowly emerge, Walking Iris flowers suddenly appear one day on what just seems to be another leaf of the plant. They bloom for a short time, usually less than a day, but they flowers are spectacular while they last. Here at BioWorks, we have yellow Walking Iris, known botanically as Neomarica longifolia.

Though not a true iris, this plant is a member of the same family, Iridaceae. The name Neomarica comes from the Greek “neo” meaning “new”, and “Marica”, a Roman nymph said to be the goddess of the swamp and the mother of Faunus, god of the forest. The common name Walking Iris is due to the unique way the plant propagates itself. After the flower is pollinated and dies back, a new plantlet emerges at that site. As it grows heavier, it bends the stalk over to the ground, where it takes root and begins a new plant. This makes Walking Iris very easy to divide and spread around your garden or share with friends.

Grow Walking Iris in almost any light exposure, from full sun to full shade. It likes well-drained soil but does best when watered regularly. Native to Central and South America, it’s hardy to zone 9 but must be brought inside for the winter in colder regions. New plants may flower the first year, or may take up to two years to produce blooms.