Bloomipedia
Dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata)
Photo: Alan Jeon via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Dwarf crested iris

Iris cristata

Dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata) is a flowering plant in the Iridaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–May across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Dwarf crested iris is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 4 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

18states where USDA records it
4Bloomipedia state lists include it
11,426U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee

Quick look

Iris cristata is a species in the genus Iris, and is part of the subgenus of Limniris. It is a rhizomatous perennial plant, endemic to the eastern United States. It has pale lavender flowers with a white patch and orange or yellow crest. It is a close relative to Iris lacustris, the only other crested iris native to North America. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

  • 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 18 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas. NatureServe
  • In North Carolina, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • In Tennessee, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,104 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #51 among the 192 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,930 research-grade sightings of it in Tennessee, ranking #21 among the 182 flowers on our Tennessee list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,215 research-grade sightings of it in Kentucky, ranking #39 among the 178 flowers on our Kentucky list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,232 records)
Bloom time in the 4 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
North CarolinaNativeApril–May3,104
TennesseeNativeApril2,930
KentuckyNativeApril1,215
ArkansasNativeApril887

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S5, secure in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
Arkansas
No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arkansas.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DC (SH), IL (S1), MD (S1), PA (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

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

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: roots, sap/juice, seeds. Symptoms they list: “Nausea, salivation, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, lethargy, elevated temperature following ingestion; skin irritation upon contact with seeds, rootstock, or cell sap. It causes only low toxicity if eaten. Skin irritation lasts for a few minutes. Highest…” NC State Extension

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 dwarf crested iris in 18 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

North Carolina counties with USDA records: Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Forsyth, Graham, Granville, Harnett, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Moore, Orange, Person, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Stokes, Swain, Transylvania, Vance, Wake, Warren, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey.

Tennessee counties with USDA records: Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Campbell, Cannon, Carter, Cheatham, Chester, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Cumberland, Davidson, DeKalb, Decatur, Dickson, Fentress, Franklin, Grainger, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Hawkins, Henry, Hickman, Houston, Knox, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Loudon, Macon, Marion, Meigs, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Overton, Perry, Pickett, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Robertson, Rutherford, Scott, Sevier, Shelby, Stewart, Sullivan, Sumner, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Weakley, White, Williamson.

Kentucky counties with USDA records: Adair, Barren, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Bullitt, Calloway, Carlisle, Carter, Casey, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Crittenden, Cumberland, Edmonson, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Fulton, Garrard, Grayson, Green, Greenup, Hardin, Harlan, Hart, Henderson, Hopkins, Jackson, Jefferson, Jessamine, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Larue, Laurel, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, Lyon, Madison, Magoffin, Marion, Marshall, McCracken, McCreary, Meade, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Oldham, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Taylor, Todd, Trigg, Warren, Wayne, Whitley, Wolfe.

Names, range and relatives

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Neubeckia cristata.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 385 counties across 18 states; the most are in Kentucky (73), Tennessee (60), Virginia (45).

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

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

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Sources