For gardeners looking for a smaller non-bearded iris to grow in container gardens, consider the bright dwarf crested iris, or ...

Hummingbirds are also attracted to the wild blue iris. This plant can be weedy or invasive. It is distasteful to livestock and heavy growths of the plant are a nuisance in pasture land.

Specks of pollen scatter from the wings of a bee as it dives into a giant blue iris in the Barataria Preserve in Marrero on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Nerd alert facts: The iris is a clump-forming plant with bluish-green, sword-shaped leaves. Its stalks bear three to five violet-blue flowers with a purple veining and inner yellow and white patch.

The iris plant was first seen around 1749 BC in Syria. The flower has been a favorite of royalty. ... blue violets for “I will always be true” along with blue iris for hope and faith.