Iris fulva ( Copper iris )
Iris fulva ( Copper iris )
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$30 minimum per species for seed.
$30 minimum per species for seed.
Each species requires a minimum of $30 of seed to proceed with checkout.
Pure Live Seed
Pure Live Seed
Seed is provided in Pure Live Seed (PLS) unless otherwise stated.
Pure Live Seed (PLS) expresses the viable seed content of a seed lot using its purity and germination or viability test results. It helps you compare seed lots and calculate how much bulk seed is needed to meet a specified PLS planting rate.
PLS weight and bag weight
PLS weight is not the same as the total weight of seed in a bag. For example, a lot with 80% purity and 75% viability contains 60% PLS: 80 × 75 ÷ 100 = 60. Supplying 10 lb PLS from that lot requires about 16.67 lb of bulk seed.
Use the current seed test and the stated basis of the mix specification. Germination calculations may include applicable hard or dormant seed. Seed-count estimates also require the number of seeds per pound; PLS alone does not provide a seed count.
What to check when buying a mix
Check whether each rate is stated in PLS pounds, bulk pounds, or a combination. A mix with both bases should not be described as having an all-PLS total.
PLS does not remove weed seeds or guarantee establishment. Review the seed label and analysis for weed content, and match site preparation, planting conditions and follow-up management to your project.
Sources: USDA NRCS, Understanding Pure Live Seed and The Importance of Seed Quality for Natural Resource Conservation.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
0.01 pounds = 0.16 ounces
- 0.1 pounds = 1.6 ounces
- 0.25 pounds = 4 ounces
- 0.5 pounds = 8 ounces
- 0.75 pounds = 12 ounces
- 1.00 pounds = 16 ounces
Copper Iris (Iris fulva) has coppery red to reddish-brown flowers, a distinctive color among native irises. The outer flower parts spread outward or arch down above blade-like leaves. Plants generally reach 2 to 3 feet tall and flower in spring. New growth comes from rhizomes, forming clumps that can widen over time.
Give copper iris a sunny or partly sunny location with rich, moist soil. Pond edges and other wet planting areas suit it better than a dry border. Its natural habitats include swamps, bottomland woods and shallow-water margins, so reliable moisture is important when choosing a garden site. Hummingbirds visit the flowers. Leave room around the clump for its foliage rather than crowding it against a path.
Plant specifications
Key growing facts
| Height | 3.3 ft (USDA mature-height reference) |
|---|
Show / hide ▾Growing & planting details
| Soil pH | 5.0–8.5 |
|---|---|
| Drought tolerance | Low |
| Salt tolerance | None |
Plant identification & seed reference
| Botanical name | Iris fulva |
|---|---|
| Seed germination | USDA lists cold stratification as not required; seed-lot response may vary. |
Planting, growth & seasonal care
Drought tolerance is rated low.
Seed preparation: USDA lists cold stratification as not required; seed-lot response may vary.
Use the selected product option to confirm the supply format and quantity. For a mixed planting, calculate the order from the actual species and layout; a plant’s mature height alone does not determine a seed rate or plug spacing.
Show / hide ▾Plant communities & associatesNo verified list yet
A species-level list has not yet been verified for this listing.
Show / hide ▾Native range & C-value
State nativity describes a broad range. Use the Chicago-region assessment for local context; a state listing does not establish county nativity.
| Wetland indicator — NWPL 2022 Midwest | OBL |
|---|---|
| C-value* — Illinois regional assessment | 9 |
| Native range — U.S. states | Alabama; Arkansas; Illinois; Kentucky; Louisiana; Mississippi; Missouri; Tennessee |
| County nativity | Not yet verified; occurrence records do not establish nativity. |
Regional assessment notes
This taxon is native to parts of the United States. A matching Flora of the Chicago Region (2017) assessment has not been verified for this listing. Any regional fallback rating is identified separately in the table above.
These records describe botanical distribution. They do not establish county occurrence or suitability for every site; an unlisted state is not proof of absence.
Show / hide ▾Pollinators & wildlife
Caterpillars recorded on Iris — genus-level evidence
These records concern the plant genus Iris, not necessarily Iris fulva. They do not establish a host relationship for every species in the genus, specialist status, or occurrence at your location. The selected insects are listed as native in the source’s North American study area.
Macromoth: Amphipoea americana (American Ear Moth, American Borer); Amphipoea keiferi; Amphipoea pacifica; Ctenucha virginica (Virginia Ctenucha ); Helotropha reniformis (American Crescent Borer, Reniform Celaena, Reniform Helotropha); Lophocampa ingens; Orgyia leucostigma (White-Marked Tussock Moth ); Papaipema cataphracta (Burdock Border, Potato-Stalk Borer); Papaipema nebris (Stalk Borer); Tetracis cachexiata (White Slant-Line); Xanthopastis regnatrix (Convict Caterpillar, Spanish Quaker, Spanish Moth); Xylena curvimacula (Dot-and-Dash Swordgrass Moth ); Xylena nupera (Red Swordgrass Moth, American Swordgrass Moth, False Armyworm).
Micromoth: Endothenia hebesana (Verbena Bud Moth); Endothenia rubipunctana; Moodna ostrinella (Darker Moodna).
Show / hide ▾Frequently asked questions
How do I germinate and establish Copper iris from seed?
USDA lists cold stratification as not required; seed-lot response may vary.
Is Copper iris deer and herbivore resistant?
Species-specific deer resistance has not been verified here. Even plants described as resistant may be browsed. Use physical protection where deer damage is a concern.
Show / hide ▾Sources & ecological notes
Native range & ecological ratings: Illinois FQA (1997; 2020 family update); USACE National Wetland Plant List; Kew WCVP / Plants of the World Online.
Growing conditions & other references: USDA NRCS PLANTS.
Wildlife records: Shropshire & Tallamy: caterpillar hosts (2025).
Native range does not identify the origin of the seed or plants offered. Community and wildlife records apply to the locations and conditions described.
Research notes & credits
U.S. state nativity: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 4 June 2026 release, under Iris fulva. © The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; CC BY 3.0. Native records selected; introduced, doubtful and extinct records excluded. Kew cannot warrant the quality or accuracy of these data; no endorsement is implied. State nativity is separate from Chicago-region nativity, county occurrence and the origin of nursery stock.
Additional reference: Open Database License 1.0.
Data adapted from Shropshire, K.J. & Tallamy, D.W. (2025), Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico, supplementary material 1. This selected and reformatted host dataset is available under the Open Database License 1.0. No endorsement implied.
Genus-level research records
These records concern the plant genus. They do not establish that each insect feeds on this particular plant species.
| Record ID | Scientific insect name | Common name | Source group | Plant genus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200718 | Amphipoea americana | American Ear Moth, American Borer | macromoth | Iris |
| 200722 | Amphipoea keiferi | macromoth | Iris | |
| 200724 | Amphipoea pacifica | macromoth | Iris | |
| 203646 | Ctenucha virginica | Virginia Ctenucha | macromoth | Iris |
| 206757 | Helotropha reniformis | American Crescent Borer, Reniform Celaena, Reniform Helotropha | macromoth | Iris |
| 207901 | Lophocampa ingens | macromoth | Iris | |
| 209084 | Orgyia leucostigma | White-Marked Tussock Moth | macromoth | Iris |
| 209261 | Papaipema cataphracta | Burdock Border, Potato-Stalk Borer | macromoth | Iris |
| 209281 | Papaipema nebris | Stalk Borer | macromoth | Iris |
| 212378 | Tetracis cachexiata | White Slant-Line | macromoth | Iris |
| 212785 | Xanthopastis regnatrix | Convict Caterpillar, Spanish Quaker, Spanish Moth | macromoth | Iris |
| 212898 | Xylena curvimacula | Dot-and-Dash Swordgrass Moth | macromoth | Iris |
| 212899 | Xylena nupera | Red Swordgrass Moth, American Swordgrass Moth, False Armyworm | macromoth | Iris |
| 204639 | Endothenia hebesana | Verbena Bud Moth | micromoth | Iris |
| 204647 | Endothenia rubipunctana | micromoth | Iris | |
| 208504 | Moodna ostrinella | Darker Moodna | micromoth | Iris |
Growing guidance: Illinois Extension — Keeping deer out of the yard and garden. Selected facts in original wording. General deer advice is not a species resistance rating.
* Illinois statewide 1997 assessment, 2020 family-name update — fallback. Exact statewide taxon; not a Chicago-region rating. This value is not presented as a Flora of the Chicago Region rating.
Plant Shipping & Care
Plant Shipping & Care
We want to ensure that our customers get what they want, a native backyard oasis. To do that, we need to follow a few simple guidelines and give you some information and pointers to make sure you get your plants delivered in a healthy state.
As a reminder, you will receive an email to confirm your pickup or shipping window just before the plants are ready. See Order Fulfillment below for seasonal fulfillment windows.
Choices to Receive Your Plants & Accessories
- Website orders: Seed, plugs and bare-root plants offered for shipping are shipped to your address. Shipping charges are calculated at checkout.
- Container trees and shrubs: Some #3 and #5 container options are offered for scheduled pickup only. Check the selected product option and the cart pickup instructions before ordering. Pickup and shipped items require separate orders where indicated in the cart.
- Wholesale orders: Delivery and pickup are arranged separately according to the order, supplier yard and location. Wholesale pickup is free.
- Pickup locations and dates are confirmed by email. Please wait for confirmation before traveling to a pickup site. Our offices are not retail stores or nursery pickup locations.
Order Fulfilment - When Your Plants or Other Items Will Be Ready
We take orders all year long and seed is shipped all year, but we only provide the plants to you in certain fulfillment windows to ensure healthy plants.
Wholesale Orders
- Shipped or are Ready For Pick Up As Requested.
Retail & Website Orders
- Seed Typically Ships Out Within One Week Of Order All Year Long
- Typically, single species flats ship when ready, sometimes as soon as early to mid-April (depends on weather) through early-October.
- Mixed species kits are batched and shipped as indicated on the product page.
- If a plant order is placed while outside of the plant fulfillment window your plants will be reserved through your payment, however, the order will not be fulfilled and shipped until the following spring. We don't want to provide you plants when they won't be happy during the cold winter months.
- Early in the spring and later in the fall certain species may be dormant or partially dormant with brown leaves, however they will return to grow healthy next growing season.
- Your order may arrive in several different shipments.
- If certain plants within an order will not be available until a later date, we may choose to hold the full order until all are ready. In certain circumstances, we may choose to send them in two separate shipments
- Fulfillment is always dependent upon plant availability. We try our best but sometimes plants do not overwinter well and perish. If a plant is on back order you will receive an email indicating the estimated shipping date. If we can not provide the plant we will first notify you and give you an option of substitution or a refund of that individual species.
- Plants are typically only packaged and shipped on Mondays to ensure they do not sit in the harsh delivery facility for extended periods of time over the weekend. You will receive a confirmation email once your delivery has been shipped and to estimate your delivery date.
- Apparel & accessories are ready typically within one to two weeks. See product page for holiday shipping.
Where We Ship
What to Expect When Receiving Your Delivery
- Your plants will be packaged with the utmost care
- We will need to cut back certain plants prior to shipping. This seems counter-intuitive, however, the fewer leaves the less water the plants can lose during shipping, resulting in healthier plants for you. This also enables the plants to fit within the protective packaging and shipped safely.
Shipments
- Larger plant shipments will look similar to the picture below with a tray of your plants and a cardboard box to protect them during shipping.
What to Do With Your Plants After Receiving Your Delivery
- Unpack your order IMMEDIATELY
- Inspect for damage and report any issues immediately to Natives@NaturalCommunities.net
- Water your plants
- Install your plants as quickly as possible and water the entire garden area thoroughly
- If you cannot install your plants immediately
- Some plants may not be in a container, put them into some kind of a container such as a paper cup with loose soil until installation
- Make sure each plant is receiving the appropriate amount of light.
- Continue to water daily each morning and possibly again in the afternoon
- No additional fertilizer is needed
Seed Shipping & Care
Seed Shipping & Care
Seed ships all year and typically ships within a week of an order being placed.
We have attempted to put together some basic information regarding native seed installation, establishment, and maintenance. We hope you find it helpful. If you need further assistance on native seed establishment, please schedule a free consolation call here.
Consultation Services
Ecosystem Restoration Considerations
Native Seed Establishment Best Management Practices
Native Seed Stratification Best Management Practices
Solving a Site Problem? Get Expert Advice + Get Store Credit
Whether you're fighting severe erosion, replacing invasive species, designing a pollinator haven, or seeding large acreage, choosing the wrong species wastes time and money. Talk 1-on-1 with a restoration ecologist to map out the exact species, plug counts, or seed mixes for your soil and goals. Book a consultation and get all or a portion credited directly back to your order.