Iris is a genus of herbaceous perennials mostly found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere from Europe to Asia and across North America. They grow from creeping rhizomes in moist environments or from bulbs in drier environments. Many species form a clump of 3–10 basal sword-shaped leaves and produce long erect flowering stems that may be branched. The flowers are showy and consist of 3 downward dropping petal-like sepals (falls) and three petals that rise upward (standards).
The iris has been significant since ancient times. In ancient Egypt it symbolize both the essence and renewal of life and the three petals of the flower represented faith, wisdom and valor. In ancient Greece Iris was the goddess of the rainbow and a messenger of the gods and her name in Greek ἶρις ( îris) meant “rainbow”, perhaps referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many specie. In the Middle Ages it was a charm to ward off evil, and by Renaissance times Christianity absorbed the iris and associated the 3 sepals and petals with the Trinity and the leaves of the plant with the sorrow that Mary would bear in behalf of her Son. The Northern Renaissance painter, Hugo van der Goes ( below) features an iris in the center of the work along with lily and rose, other flowers associated with the Virgin Mary.
Portinari Altarpiece; Adoration of the Sheperds (c. 1475) Hugo van der Goes (Photo Credit Wikipedia)
During the Renaissance the sword-like leaves of the iris were also associate with the swords of the Seven Sorrows of Mary:
- The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34-35)
- The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-21)
- The loss of Jesus in Jerusalem for three days (Luke 2:41-50)
- Mary meets Jesus carrying the cross (John 19:17)
- Mary’s standing at the foot of the cross at the Crucifixion of Jesus (John 19:18-30)
- Mary holding Jesus when He was taken down from the cross (John 19:39-42)
- Mary witnesses Jesus being laid in the tomb (John 19:39-42)
The Seven Sorrows and their association with swords were predicted by Simeon (the first sorrow) when he said to Mary:
” Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed. “
There are over 300 kinds of iris with showy flowers so it is hard to know which one of them people had in mind when they associated the iris with the Virgin Mary. John S. Stoke Jr, the founder of the Mary Garden movement and associated with the University of Dayton, identifies the iris as Iris versicolor (Northern Blue Flag). It is unlikely, however that that the iris shown in Renaissance paintings with the Virgin Mary is this species as it is native to North America although the resemblance between the two irises makes it a good choice for a Mary Garden in the US, although other species are possible.
Iris like fertile, medium moist to dry, well drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Most are hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9, a some in zones 5-9. Iris are prone to damage by iris borer, several fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases attacking the leaves or rhizomes, but survive the infection. Propagation is usually by division.