It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Afghanistan, with thin bluish-green leaves and creamy yellow or white flowers, that are veined with purple-brown.

[3][6] At higher altitudes, the plants are deeper in colour and smaller (around about 10 cm tall).

At lower altitudes, the plants are larger (around 25–30 cm (10–12 in) tall) and more paler in colour.

[6][12] The cream or white, drooping falls have a central purple signal patch,[4][7][11] surrounded by purple-brown veining.

[13][12][9] The pale yellow upright standards,[9][10][11] are 6–7 cm (2–3 in) long,[7] they have a beard of greenish hairs on the lower part.

As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings.

[14][15] In 1964, it was found by Rear Admiral Paul Furse and his wife Polly, in Afghanistan, on the northern side of the Salang Pass in the Hindu Kush, north of the city of Kabul.

Later in 1966, on another plant hunting trip, they found more specimens of the iris and realised it was a new species.

[8] It grows on the sunny, rocky mountain slopes composed of granite or shale,[3][4][6] It was also recorded by Grey-Wilson (1973), as growing "amongst boulders along the banks of the Salang River or on rocky slopes amongst grasses away from the river confines".

[7] Within UK, it is hardy but is best grown within a well-ventilated cold frame or alpine house.

[6] Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting.