Iris Family - Native Species Of North America

Various species in the iris family are native to wild places in North America. Wild irises are most commonly found in moist habitats beside lakes, ponds, rivers, and seashores. Some of the more widespread species of iris include the blue-flag (Iris versicolor), violet iris (I. verna), water-flag or western blue-flag (I. missouriensis), western iris (I. tenax), and the beachhead-iris (Iris setosa). Another widespread group in the iris family is the blue-eyed grasses, for example, Sisyrinchium montanum. The blue-eyed grasses are found in a wide range of moist habitats and sometimes beside roads and other disturbed places.