It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Central Europe, found in Hungary, Austria, Romania, Czech Republic and Ukraine.

[7][10][11] The stems have 1–2 spathes (leaves of the flower bud), which are green, lanceolate and (scarious) membranous.

[3] After the iris has flowered, in July–September,[6] it produces an oblong or fusiform (spindle shaped) seed capsule.

[3] The Latin specific epithet arenaria refers to sand, hence growing in sandy places.

[24] It was first published and described by Franz de Paula Adam von Waldstein and Pál Kitaibel in 'Descriptiones et Icones Plantarum Rariorum Hungariae' (Descr.

[26][27][28] In 2013, Barker & Govaerts created the "World check-list of selected plant families" from the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, which lists Iris arenaria (Waldstein & Kitaibel in 1802) and Iris humilis (Georgi, 1775) as two separate species.

[16][29] It is also listed in 'Atlas of Seeds and Fruits of Central and East-European Flora: The Carpathian Mountains Region' as Iris arenaria.

[4][11][12] It is found in Hungary,[23][25][32] (including Kiskunság,[20]) Austria,[8][10][16] Romania,[7][8][10] Czech Republic,[10][16][18] Slovakia,[7][8][18] and Ukraine.

[6][7][8] It is commonly found on Pannonian steppe,[4][19] (within Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia).

[4][7] In Ukraine, it is found in the (pine) forest steppes beside Seversky Donets (river), on the sandy riversides and in sand dunes.

[6] In the Czech Republic, it is found in the sand dunes of Čenkov (within a national nature reserve).

[3][8] It is listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC, with Adenophora liliifolia, Aldrovanda vesiculosa, Angelica palustris, Cirsium brachycephalum, Iris aphylla subsp.

[34] It is threatened by extensive grazing of sheep and goats,[6][8] also sand extraction and urban development.

[6] It is protected in Czech Republic (7 of 8 populations are located with reserves),[34] Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia.

Then it should be left to dry for a few days, before removing the seed (from the capsule) and sowing in trays or pots.