I Love this Iris with its flattened leaves forming a fan right at the base and the purple flowers on the long erected simple stems.
There are over 300 species of the Iris plant, most common is the Bearded Iris, Crested Iris, Dutch Iris and the Reticulata Iris.
The Iris is perennial and grow from either bulbs or rhizomes. It needs room to breathe so plant them about 15 inches apart in full sun and well-drained soil with a pH of about 7. Breaking off the seedpods prevents them from spreading their seeds to close to each other. It is important pruning the foliage back in the fall and dividing the clumps very few years.