Nature Walk: Dwarf Crested Iris

Garden flowers are often exotics, that is, originating from foreign sources. Early settlers brought familiar plants from Europe, and horticulturalists have since scoured the world for colorful additions. Occasionally we find a native wildflower that has been incorporated into urban gardens. One example is Dwarf Crested Iris, found in eastern woodlands. It is tiny – perhaps 4 inches in height – has a beautiful flower and blooms early in the season. Here we see it mixed with bulblet bladder ferns.