Iris versicolor, Northern Blue Flag, in Garden
This photo illustrates the perils of using habitat to identify garden plants. Here, a northern blue flag (Iris versicolor) is growing on dry ground on the north side of a house. This species normally only occurs in wetlands with standing water. The mulch retains water which allows it to survive on drier ground, and having it planted on the north side of the house further reduces drought stress. However, in the wild it usually is found on sites with much more light. But here, competing vegetation is also kept away from it, ensuring that it gets all of the relatively little sunlight shining on this area. Both factors likely allow it to survive on a drier, less-sunny site than it would normally occur on.
