Harlequin Blue Flag

Ecology & Conservation

Proximity Score

0

Native Status

✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON

Closest Direction

Local

CEC Eco-Regions

5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians

Rarity Notes

Secure throughout its range (G5, N5 in both Canada and US). Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. Ranked S5 in both Ontario and Quebec. Iris versicolor is Quebec's provincial floral emblem, reflecting its cultural and ecological significance in the province.

S22 G5, N5; S26 not SARA listed; S5 Quebec's floral emblem

Rarity Ranks

QC S5 – Secure, ON S5 – Secure

Migration

Stable

Ecological Context

Iris versicolor is a characteristic species of marshes, wet meadows, stream banks, lake shores, and swamps across northeastern North America. In the Outaouais, it colonizes riparian edges and shallow wetlands where water tables remain near or above the surface. Common in Ottawa (S62) and throughout QC (S22 S5), it forms dense patches along shorelines and in fens, often growing alongside Carex spp., Typha spp., and Calla palustris.

S7 wet places generally; S61 marshes, meadows, shores; S4 meadows, stream banks, marshes, swamps; S62 Common in Ottawa

Permaculture & Companion Planting

Roles

Insectary Plant, Pollinator Attractor, Water Purifier

S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Insectary Plant: S64 NPPBI 'beneficial insects' flag] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)] | Water Purifier: S72 Hemenway (tables: 5-3, pp. 82)]

Notes

Valued in wetland and rain garden guilds for its water purification capacity (S72 Hemenway Table 5-3). Its rhizomatous growth stabilizes shorelines and wet banks. Suitable for bioswales, rain gardens, and shoreline rehabilitation plantings. Tolerant of juglone (S3 OWSL), enabling pairing with Juglans nigra in riparian settings. Deer and rabbit resistant (S29, S3), making it a reliable anchor plant in guild designs.

S72 water purifier; S3 juglone tolerant, deer/rabbit resistant; S29 deer/rabbit rarely browse

Medicinal Properties

ℹ

Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.

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Category

Alterative, Cathartic, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Emetic, Dermatological Aid, Burn Dressing, Antirheumatic

S29 PFAF medicinal actions; S28 Moerman categories

Notes

Extensively used by Indigenous peoples across northeastern North America. Moerman documents 54 uses spanning multiple nations including Algonquin, Chippewa, Iroquois, Cree, Delaware, and Meskwaki. Root poultices were applied to burns, wounds, sores, and swellings. Infusions taken internally as purgatives, liver and kidney aids, and for rheumatism. The rhizome contains iridin, salicylic acid, and tannins. Modern herbalism employs it as a detoxifier, increasing urination and bile production. Health Canada lists it as a homeopathic substance (S36). Fresh root is quite acrid; dried root is preferred medicinally.

S28 54 uses across many nations; S29 PFAF medicinal rating 3/5; S31 iridin, salicylic acid, tannin; S36 Health Canada homeopathic

Edibility & Foraging

ℹ

Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.

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❌ Not Edible   

Foraging Notes

No edible uses are documented. PFAF rates edibility 0 of 5. The rhizome is considered poisonous and causes nausea and vomiting if ingested. Moerman records no food-category uses among Indigenous peoples, only medicinal and other applications.

S29 Edibility Rating 0/5; S28 no Food category uses; S4 rhizome poisonous

Toxicity

⚠️ Moderate Toxicity

Not listed in Cornell poisonous plants database (S38). However, the rhizome contains iridin (irisin) and the volatile oil furfural, which cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea if ingested (S4). Fresh root is more acrid than dried root (S29). Cell sap and rootstock can cause skin irritation and dermatitis in sensitive individuals (S4, S29). OWSL notes it is toxic to mammals if ingested (S3). Poisonous to livestock (S4). Despite these hazards, toxicity level remains None per schema conventions since Cornell does not list it and effects are primarily GI irritation from intentional ingestion.

S38 not listed; S4 iridin, furfural; S29 skin irritation; S3 toxic to mammals

Seed Source

• Akene
• OWSL