Flower profile

Beach-head iris

Iris setosa

Beach-head iris (Iris setosa) is a flowering plant in the Iridaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–July across the U.S.

Native to Alaska

Beach-head iris is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Alaska it's most often seen in bloom in June–July.

3states where USDA records it

1,423AK sightings*

1,425U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alaska

Quick look

Iris setosa, known as the beachhead iris or bristle-pointed iris, among other common names, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Iris of the family Iridaceae. This species belongs to the subgenus Limniris and the series Tripetalae. The plant is a rhizomatous perennial found in a wide range across and below the Arctic Circle; this range includes the United States, Canada, Russia, China, Korea, and Japan.
From Wikipedia's article Iris setosa, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Iridaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 3 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Alaska. ^NatureServe
In Alaska, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,423 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #25 among the 121 flowers on our Alaska list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Alaska, most flowering sightings come in June–July.

Flowering records by month in Alaska (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (106 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Alaska: No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alaska.
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Flag” (Iris species), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Salivation, vomiting, drooling,lethargy, diarrhea. Highest concentration in… ^ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records beach-head iris in 3 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Maine, New Hampshire.

Alaska counties with USDA records: Aleutians East, Aleutians West, Anchorage, Bethel, Chugach, Copper River, Denali, Dillingham, Fairbanks North Star, Haines, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Ketchikan Gateway, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna, Nome, Northwest Arctic, Sitka, Southeast Fairbanks, Yakutat, Yukon-Koyukuk.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 25 counties across 2 states; the most are in Alaska (22), Maine (3).

Other Iris on Bloomipedia (11): Irises, Yellow iris, Dwarf crested iris, Douglas iris, Western blue flag, Northern blue flag iris, Southern blue flag, Oregon iris, Dwarf iris, Dwarf lake iris.

More from the Iridaceae family (14 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Western blue-eyed grass, Blue pigroot, Grasswidow.

More Alaska flowers

Fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: July–August

Common cowparsnip

Heracleum maximum

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: June–July

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: June–September

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile IRSE.
iNaturalist, Iris setosa: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Iris setosa (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Iris setosa (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
Photo: Jason Grant via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.