Iris fulva
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Iridaceae
Subfamily:	Iridoideae
Tribe:	Irideae
Genus:	Iris
Subgenus:	Limniris
Series:	Hexagonae
Species:	Iris fulva
Binomial name
Iris fulva Ker Gawl.
Synonyms
Iris cupraea  Pursh Iris ecristata  Alexander Iris fulvaurea  Small Iris rubescens  Raf. Limniris fulva  (Ker Gawl.) Rodion. Neubeckia fulva  (Ker Gawl.) Alef. [1]

Iris fulva is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Limniris and in the Hexagonae. It is a rhizomatous perennial.

It has the common name of 'Copper Iris'.^[2][3][4]Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).^[5]

It was first found and collected on the banks of the Mississippi river near New Orleans in 1811.^[6][7]

It was then first published and described by John Bellenden Ker Gawler in the Botanical Magazine Issue 36 of 1812.^[8] It was later published in Addisonia (Issue12, March 1927 with colour illustrations.^[9]

John James Audubon illustrated a pair of Northern Parulas in Birds of America, (published, London 1827-38), Plate 15 entitled "Blue Yellow-backed Warbler - Sylvia americana". The birds are shown perched on a Louisiana Flag (Iris fulva) painted by Joseph Mason to which Audubon added the two birds in 1821. This led to a group of Irises in Louisiana known as the "Louisiana Irises".^[10][11]

Iris fulva is an accepted name by the RHS and it has been awarded with the Award of Garden Merit.^[12]

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes. This can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.^[13] It has a chromosome count: 2n=42.^[4][3][14] It has been counted several times. 2n=42, Simonet 1932, 2n=42-Riley 1942; 2n=42-Randolph & Mitra 1961; 2n-42, Randolph, 1966.^[9]

Some parts of the iris are poisonous.^[5] Because both the foliage and rhizomes are toxic, most mammalian herbivores usually leave Iris untouched, although the Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) occasionally feeds on their rhizomes and lower stems and the White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) sometimes nibbles the leaf edges.^[15]

The Louisiana irises generally all have similar cultivation requirements. They need full sunlight (minimum of 6 hours during summer), moist, acidic soils (ph level of 6.5) with a high organic and high fertility content.^{[16][17][4][15]}

For best flowering, moisture is essential during late autumn, winter and spring times (October to May), when the plant starts to grow new leaves.^[18][9] They can be given a light feed between autumn and spring, if needed.^[17][16]

They can be used planted by the edges of ponds and pools or they can be planted in the water.^[5] But they need the rhizomes to be pinned into the ground to stop them floating away.^[18][17]Also the rhizomes must be covered in gravel to stop fish disturbing the roots.^[17] They can also be planted in streams, but not heavy flowing rivers.^[17] It can tolerate pools up to 6 inches deep.^[15]

They also can be grown in containers (even in the water or bog garden) but they must be re-potted and divided every year.^[17][16]

Propagation is best carried out by division of the rhizomes.^{[18][19][17][16][20]} Which is best carried out in late summer, when the plants are dormant. The ground must be prepared pre-planting, with the addition of a generous amount of organic matter and the soils dug to about 6 inches deep (to allow for new root growth). Plants require dividing every 3-4 years to promote good flowering. They can combine with other plants but tend to 'move' to suitable positions.^[17][16][18]

If using a fertilizer, sprinkle around the plant in late January or February, before the plant is in flower.^[18][16][17]

New plantings need to be mulched to prevent sun-scalding.^[17][16] Plantings in the water do not need mulching and tend to grow quicker than others.^[16][17]

The iris seed is not hard to raise but a very slow process.^[19] It can take many months to germinate (between 3-12 months) with a 50% germination average.^[17] They then can take 3-5 years before reaching flowering stage.^[19]

Seeds should be harvested from the plant after flowering but they must be from mature seed pods. They then should be stored in paper bags, as seed stored in glass containers often goes mouldy.^[17]

It is estimated to be hardy to between USDA Zones 3 to 10.^[4][15]

It can tolerate frost but will flower poorly in areas with cool summers.^[19][16]

It can be grown in southern UK, in damp or wet soils.^[21][22]

Iris fulva (like Iris brevicualis) is primary pollinated by hummingbirds, looking for nectar.^[23][24] Mainly the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). ^[15]

It also attracts butterflies. Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

• Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 143.

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Media related to Iris fulva at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Iris fulva at Wikispecies

fulva Category;Plants described in 1812 Category;Flora of the United States Category;Flora of Texas Category;Flora of Alabama Category;Flora of Louisiana Category;Flora of Mississippi