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Iris florentina is a white-flowered iris grown for its violet-scented rhizome, historically planted on graves in Muslim regions. It grows best in full sun to light shade in well-drained soil, and should not be waterlogged.
Iris florentina, also known as Iris albicans, cemetery iris, white cemetery iris, or the white flag iris, is a species of iris which was planted on graves in Muslim regions and grows in many countries throughout the Middle East and northern Africa. It was later introduced to Spain, and then other European countries.
The identity of the plant first described by Carl Linnaeus as Iris florentina remains unclear, as of December 2021. In horticulture, it has been treated as a white-flowered variant of Iris × germanica, under names such as Iris germanica nothovar. florentina, Iris × germanica var. florentina and Iris × germanica 'Florentina'. Iris florentina has also been treated as the correct name for the true species also known as Iris albicans Lange.
It is hardy, to between USDA Zone 3 and Zone 9, or between 5 and 8.
It is also hardy to Zone H2 (in Europe), between −15 and -20oC (5 to −4oF). It has been tested for hardiness in Russia, in the botanical gardens of; Barnaul, Novosibirsk, St. Petersburg and Ufa. In the winter, it requires protection from moisture (in Russia).
Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves) and, if ingested, can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also, handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction.
It was noted by G.R Winter (in 1948, J Periodont 19:108) that allergic manifestations can be caused by the use of a dentifrice (teeth cleaner) containing orris root powder.
The violet scented rhizome has many uses including, a perfume, for mixing with hair powder, powder used for washing clothes, hair, and teeth, used as a fresh scent for linen, a base for dry shampoos, base for tooth powders, in face-packs, as a fixative in pot-pourri.
Iris acutiloba subsp. lineolata · Iris acutiloba · Iris adriatica · Iris afghanica · Iris alberti · Iris albomarginata · Iris alexeenkoi · Single Bract Iris · Iris antilibanotica · Stool iris · Iris arenaria · Iris assadiana
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Iris florentina by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
