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Discover the Rainbow: Top 8 Fun and Fascinating Facts about Irises

illustration of iris
Unravel the colorful mysteries of the elegant iris as we take you on a whimsical journey through some eye-opening fun facts!

1. Iris: The OG Social Media Influencer

Imagine the iris flower being the original social media influencer during ancient times, spreading divine gossip from up above like photos of rainbows after a splendid summer rain: The iris dates back to 1500 BC where Egyptians depicted it on pyramid walls, Louis XVIII used it as a symbol of protection, and Van Gogh splashed its beauty on his canvas while it carried messages from the gods and was named after the Greek goddess Iris, who was all about that #rainbowlife.
Source => funnyhowflowersdothat.co.uk

2. Chameleon of the Botanical World

Oh, iris, you witty chameleon of the botanical world, sporting sassy beards, flaunting aril exuberance, and masquerading as beardless wetland inhabitants: the diverse iris genus is divided into three main groups - bearded, aril, and beardless - each with their own unique characteristics, catering to various landscape preferences and conditions.
Source => gardenerspath.com

3. Magical, Mood-lifting Encores

Extra! Extra! Read all about the magical, mood-lifting showoffs of the garden – the irises, performing multiple encores before taking a bow: These talented flowers, found in bearded, Japanese, and Siberian iris categories, can rebloom during the same growing season, treating your eyes and soul to rounds of splendid color displays, although Mother Nature may sometimes reclaim her spotlight, affecting the encore by way of growing conditions and plant age.
Source => hgtv.com

4. Fleur-de-lis' Floral Inspiration

While the origin of the Fleur-de-lis is still a bloomin' mystery with a few petals left to uncover, it's possible that even this fancy French symbol couldn't resist the charm of a pretty flower: the elegant Yellow Flag Iris may have served as the inspiration for the Fleur-de-lis, with the Franks in Flanders adoringly referring to it as the "flower of the River Lys," thus planting the seed for the renowned heraldic symbol we're all familiar with.
Source => botanykaren.net

Bearded Iris: Planning Pro

5. Bearded Iris: Planning Pro

Who says plants can't plan ahead, unlike those with Peter Pan syndrome? Bearded Iris plants beg to differ: They cleverly store sugars in their roots during the summer, preparing for a spectacular early bloom the following spring, making sure their foliage game is on point.
Source => communityenvironment.unl.edu

6. The Colorful Crescendos Band

If irises were a band, they'd be called "The Colorful Crescendos": Boasting a kaleidoscope of shades like the rockstars they are, irises bloom in magnificent colors ranging from blue and purple to yellow and white, inspiring masks adorned with their show-stopping floral prints.
Source => redbubble.com

7. Celestial Scentbusters

In a world where gods loved getting their noses tickled by celestial scents, humanity turned to the iris flower for divine aroma busting: Indian and Egyptian cultures were using iris rhizomes not only for their medicinal wonders but also tossing orris roots into fires to appease and delight the gods with a fragrance to remember, catapulting the iris into cultural stardom and eventually making it the emblem of 19th-century Florence.
Source => gardenguides.com

8. #AncientPerfumeGame

If the ancient Greeks and Romans had Instagram, they'd have been slaying the #PerfumeGame with their Iris unguents: Orris Root, derived from the Iris plant, has been used as a fixative in potpourri and perfume since antiquity, even treating ailments like bronchitis and liver congestion. Now, most Orris Root comes from Italy, keeping you smelling fresh and history-chic.
Source => luminescents.net

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