prairie wildflower
Dwarf Lake Iris
Iris lacustris
1 of 2Native to Michigan and Wisconsin and southern Canada
- Light Full sun Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moisture preference
- Zones 4–6 Cold to heat range
- Bloom May–Jun Flowering time
- Height up to 6 in to 15 cm
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A prairie wildflower for full sun. Its white flowers peak in May. At up to 6 in, it tucks into meadows and sunny borders. Hardy in USDA zones 4–6.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
When it blooms
The Dwarf Lake Iris's white flowers bloom May to June, peaking in May. It's a late-spring display.
Dwarf Lake Iris blooms white, yellow, blue, purple & violetFoliage
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Michigan and Wisconsin and southern CanadaUnited States (2): MI, WI. Canada (1): ON. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sunHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4–6 · Canadian 4–6The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 6 in (to 15 cm)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- May–JunWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- White, Yellow, Blue, Purple, VioletThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- CapsuleThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.