Perennial of the Iridaceae family, native to eastern North America, from Canada to the southeastern United States. It naturally grows in wet meadows, stream banks, clearings, and slightly moist open areas, usually in plains or low mountains.
It forms small upright clumps of linear, flattened leaves, glaucous to medium green, reminiscent of grass or miniature iris foliage, 20 to 35 cm tall. The flowering stems, also winged and flattened, bear flowers with six spreading tepals, light lavender-blue with a bright yellow center, about 1.5 cm in diameter. This contrast between the delicate blue of the tepals and the bright yellow of the center is one of the immediate charms of this species.
In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from May to July. In cultivation under our climates, it generally blooms from May to June, sometimes slightly reblooming in the fall.
It is cultivated in full sun to partial shade, in fresh, well-drained but never dried out soil. Suitable for fresh rock gardens, borders, and pond edges.