Iris is a genus of 260-300 species of flowering plant with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, which is also the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris. Some authors state that the name refers to the variety of flower colours found among the species.
As well as being the scientific name, Iris if also very widely used as a common name for all Iris species, as well as some belonging to other closely related genera. A common name for some species is "flags", while the plants of subgenus Scorpiris are widely known as "junos", particularly in horticulture. It is a very popular garden flower.
Nearly all species are found in temperate Northern hemisphere zones, from Eurasia to Asia and across North America. Although diverse in ecology, Iris is predominantly found in dry, semi-desert, or colder rocky mountainous areas. Other habitats include grassy slopes, meadowlands, bog and river banks.
Iris grow well in most garden soil types providing they are well-drained.
