Iris may be rhizomatous or bulbous perennials, with narrowly leaves and erect stems bearing flowers with 3 large spreading or pendent fall petals, alternating with 3 erect, often smaller, standard petals, in late winter, spring or early summer
I. versicolor is a rhizomatous perennial to 80cm in height, with narrow, erect foliage and branched stems bearing several bluish-purple flowers 6-8cm in width, the falls with a conspicuously veined white basal patch