Iris zagrica is a species in the genus Iris, in the subgenus Hermodactyloides and section Reticulatae. It is a bulbous perennial plant.
It was described by botanical authors Brian Mathew and Mehdi Zarrei in 2009, who published their findings in Curtis's Botanical Magazine volume 26(3), pages 245–252, table 653.[1]
Its name was verified in the US in 2003, by ARS Systematic Botanists
It was named after the Zagros Mountains in Iran.[1]
In 2010, it was exhibited at the RHS London Early Spring Show by a Director of Kew. It was awarded a Botanical Certificate by the Joint Rock Garden Plant Committee of the Alpine Garden Society.[2]
It has a long icy blue flower stalk and a very short tube. The blue standards have a darker central zone. The falls are powerfully veined, imperial purple, with an orange central crest.[3]
Some rare versions have pure white flowers.[4]
Kew Gardens has a bulb originally collected in 08/05/1962 from the 'Zirreh Pass' in Iran, it was originally named Iris reticulata before being reclassified.[5]
Originating from and named after the Zagros, a mountain range in westernIran. It can also be found in Iraq.[4] It can be found as high as almost 2000m above sea level.[5]