Summer Wildflowers: Rocky Mountain Iris

Written By Hailey R

I saw a bunch of Rocky Mountain Irises (Iris missouriensis, a.k.a. western blue flag) near Woodland Park a couple weeks ago!

A cluster of wildflowers in green grass, including a dandelion (white fluffy seeds), yellow flowers, and purple Rocky Mountain Irises.

Photo Credit: Hailey Robe. Wildflowers near Woodland Park, Colorado. June 2024.

My friend and I were visiting Rampart Reservoir to paddleboard (my first time out with my new board + first paddleboarding trip this season!) and we saw a lot of beautiful wildflowers on our way - including the Rocky Mountain Iris!

Close-up of Rocky Mountain Iris (top-view), deep purple in the central petals and yellow and light purple on three outer petals.

Photo Credit: Hailey Robe. Rocky Mountain Iris. June 2024.

These flowers grow throughout the western US and Canada, and bloom from early to late summer. Its distinctive, blue-purple petals are highlighted by yellow and white lines on the outer three petals, guiding pollinators from the edge of the petals to the center of the flower. According to the USDA, “Irises are generally pollinated by bumble bees, large carpenter bees, and sometimes flies and moths.”

Notably, this flower’s habitat is threatened in some areas of the US and Canada due to land use change such as agriculture, grazing, and development. This species can also be damaged by iris borer caterpillars (Macronoctua onusta).

Here’s a picture from the reservoir - it was a beautiful day, even with the wind making our trip back across the reservoir pretty tough!

Blue sky and clouds over Pikes Peak, still with some scattered snow on top, and a forest in the background (mix of conifers, bright green aspens, and dead trees as forest recovers from wildfire); glassy blue water in foreground.

Photo Credit: Hailey Robe. Rampart Reservoir near Woodland Park, Colorado. June 2024.

Hailey R
Previous

Bison or Buffalo?
Next

ICYMI: Colorado Gov. Passes New Wildlife Laws