Iris: the messenger flower

An iris looks hand-painted: three upright petals, three falling ones and a flash of yellow at the throat. In Ireland most of us know two very different irises, the slim blue Dutch iris from the florist and the tall yellow flag that lights up wet fields in June.

Irises add height and deep colour to a spring bouquet.

See bouquets

Named after the rainbow

In Greek myth Iris was the messenger of the gods, travelling between heaven and earth along the rainbow. The flower took her name because it comes in so many colours. Over the centuries it found its way into heraldry: the French fleur-de-lis, despite its name, is generally thought to be a stylised iris rather than a lily. In Japan, whole gardens of irises are planted to flower in early summer.

What an iris says

Because of its messenger story, the iris is linked with good news, hope and faith. Colour adds a shade of meaning:

Blue and purple: wisdom, admiration and loyalty. A thoughtful choice for a mentor, a teacher or a parent.
White: purity and remembrance, often used in sympathy and funeral flowers.
Yellow: warmth and passion, and for Irish people a reminder of early summer in the countryside.

Ireland’s own iris: the yellow flag

The yellow flag, Iris pseudacorus, is one of the most familiar native wild flowers in the country. It grows in damp ditches, marshy fields and along the edges of lakes and rivers, and its bright yellow flowers appear in late May and June. Corncrakes and other wildlife use the tall clumps for cover. Admire it where it grows; for the house, buy cut flowers.

Send irises, or a mixed bouquet with them, anywhere in Ireland.

Browse bouquets

Irises in the shop and in the garden

Dutch iris: the cut flower you will find most of the year, with straight stems and blue, white or yellow flowers. Grown from bulbs.
Bearded iris (I. germanica and hybrids): big, ruffled garden irises with a fuzzy “beard” on the lower petals. They want sun and free-draining soil, so plant the rhizomes with their tops showing.
Siberian iris: graceful and tough, happy in heavier, damper Irish soils.
Winter iris (I. unguicularis): flowers in the dead of winter at the foot of a sunny wall; pick the buds and they open indoors.
Dwarf irises (I. reticulata): tiny February bulbs for pots and rockeries.

Cut irises at home

Buy them in bud with the colour just showing; fully open irises are near the end of their life.
Give a fresh cut and stand them in cool water away from radiators and sunny windows.
When the top flower fades, snap it off. A second bud lower down often opens.
They pair well with tulips and spring greenery, but give daffodils a separate soak first.

Iris at a glance

Question	Answer
Genus	Iris, around 300 species
Native Irish species	Yellow flag, Iris pseudacorus
Bearded iris in flower	May to June
Pets	Toxic to cats and dogs

Want to send flowers with irises? See also our flower language guide and our care tips for keeping a bouquet fresh.

Choose a bouquet with irises for someone in Ireland.

Choose bouquet →

Iris questions

What does an iris symbolise?

Most often hope, faith and wisdom, which come from the Greek goddess Iris who carried messages along the rainbow. Purple irises are linked with dignity and admiration, white with purity, and yellow with warmth and passion.

How long do cut irises last?

Each flower lasts only a few days, but most stems carry a second bud lower down. Pinch off the spent flower and the next one often opens, giving the stem roughly a week in total in a cool room.

Are irises poisonous to cats and dogs?

Yes. Irises are listed as toxic to cats and dogs, and the rhizome or bulb is the most harmful part. Eating them can cause drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea, so keep cut irises and garden plants away from pets.

Is the yellow iris I see in wet fields native to Ireland?

Yes. The yellow flag, Iris pseudacorus, is a native wild plant that grows in ditches, marshes and along lakeshores all over the country and flowers in early summer. Leave wild plants where they are and buy cut irises instead.