Iris setosa

Iris setosa (Iridaceae) is a rhizomatous perennial with a circumboreal distribution spanning Alaska, Maine, eastern Canada, Russia, Siberia, China, Korea, and Japan. It is the only iris species native to both Asia and North America. The large branching rhizomes form clumps that produce miniature Japanese iris-like flowers. Plants are variable in size depending on provenance.

Beachhead iris prefers moist to wet soils in partial shade and tolerates true bog conditions. It does not thrive in lime-containing soils or heavy clay that bakes dry in summer. The species is cold hardy and adapted to subarctic conditions, making it useful for gardens in northern climates where few iris species succeed. Its broad native range has produced considerable variation in form, flower size, and cold tolerance among different populations.