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Jul 11, 2016 9:09 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ann
northcentral OK (Zone 6b)
My daughter was camping last week by Lake Superior in MN. She came across this Iris in the wild. Can someone tell me what kind it is, please?
Thanks, Ann

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Jul 11, 2016 9:44 AM CST
Name: Leslie
Durham, NC (Zone 8a)
Garden Photography Cat Lover Irises Region: North Carolina Peonies Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Celebrating Gardening: 2015
A type of iris cristata perhaps? It doesn't look very tall. Definitely a Species iris of some sort.
"The chimera is a one time happenstance event where the plant has a senior moment and forgets what it is doing." - Paul Black
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Jul 11, 2016 3:43 PM CST
Name: Lucy
Tri Cities, WA (Zone 6b)
irises
Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Irises Region: Northeast US Region: United Kingdom Region: United States of America
Enjoys or suffers cold winters
I suspect I. lucusteris (not sure of the spelling). It does look like cristata but is natural to the Great Lakes region.
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Jul 11, 2016 8:25 PM CST
Name: Leslie
Durham, NC (Zone 8a)
Garden Photography Cat Lover Irises Region: North Carolina Peonies Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I bow to Lucy's knowledge.
"The chimera is a one time happenstance event where the plant has a senior moment and forgets what it is doing." - Paul Black
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Jul 11, 2016 9:39 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Kent Pfeiffer
Southeast Nebraska (Zone 5b)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator Plant Identifier Region: Nebraska Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Forum moderator Irises Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level
Looks more like Iris versicolor to me.

Species Iris (Iris versicolor)
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Jul 12, 2016 5:40 AM CST
Name: Lucy
Tri Cities, WA (Zone 6b)
irises
Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Irises Region: Northeast US Region: United Kingdom Region: United States of America
Enjoys or suffers cold winters
versicolors are taller than that. Was it tall or a short stem. the 'Great Lakes' irises are proitected by the way,.
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Jul 12, 2016 8:40 AM CST
Name: Leslie
Durham, NC (Zone 8a)
Garden Photography Cat Lover Irises Region: North Carolina Peonies Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Celebrating Gardening: 2015
And they should be protected!
"The chimera is a one time happenstance event where the plant has a senior moment and forgets what it is doing." - Paul Black
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Jul 12, 2016 9:10 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Kent Pfeiffer
Southeast Nebraska (Zone 5b)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator Plant Identifier Region: Nebraska Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Forum moderator Irises Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level
Iris lacustris doesn't grow (in the wild) in Minnesota . In any event, the plant in the picture lacks crests on its sepals, which would seem to eliminate the possibility of its being a crested iris. As to the height of the inflorescence, it's difficult to judge based on the angle of the picture. I'd guess maybe a foot or so? That's certainly short for Iris versicolor, but within the range of possibility. Iris lacustris typically has a two inch maximum inflorescence height.
Avatar for Bloombuddie
Jul 12, 2016 2:00 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ann
northcentral OK (Zone 6b)
Thank you all for sharing your knowledge! Our daughter says the height of the entire plant was about 2 feet. She assured me that she left it to grow and only took its picture.
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Jul 13, 2016 7:57 AM CST
Name: Lucy
Tri Cities, WA (Zone 6b)
irises
Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Irises Region: Northeast US Region: United Kingdom Region: United States of America
Enjoys or suffers cold winters
2 feet would be more apt to be versicolor which is a native American as well. Also the source for iris borer, drat it.
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