They are sturdy plants from swampy soils having stems with leafy spathes.The flowers are large and the capsules are 6 ribbed containing large, corky seeds. Louisiana hybrids were bred from i. brevicaulis Rafin., i. fulva Ker Gawl. and related species native to se usa, all semi-aquatic or growing in wet ground. Stems 40-180 cm tall, 2-6 branched and with leaf-like spathes. Flowers flat and open with all perianth segments broadly oval and spreading almost horizontally, in very diverse colour combinations. Signals are triangular and sometimes coalesce to form a star pattern in the centre of the flower. Late spring, with the remontants flowering again in autumn. Capsules 6 ribbed.
These are members of the series Hexagonae of the subgenus Limniris.
Caillet &Merzweiller (1988).
Modern hybrids have been developed in the USA and also in Australia and New Zealand in the last 50 years.
Source: (2005). Iridaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
Flowers buff flushed with pink and yellow.
Rich cornflower blue self.
Finely ruffled lobes, white, shading to pale lemon in centre.
Sulphur-yellow self, remontant.
Bred in New Zealand by Sam Rix of Mt Maunganui in the North Island received the highest award for Louisianas in the usa in 1963. Successful breeders in Australia include Bob Raabe, John Taylor, Graeme Grosvenor, Heather and Bernard Pryor, Janet Hutchinson, Dr t.j. Betts and Peter Jackson. Goals include orange, red or near black segments, or segments with interesting patterns, also miniature forms.
S dream' Very broad overlapping maroon-red lobes, yellow star centre and edges.
Deep yellow self with broad ruffled lobes.
Very broad overlapping purple lobes, yellow-green star centre with pink styles.
Flowers pale blue with white centre and white edges.
