It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, due to it needing very dry conditions.

It is a geophyte,[3][4] with stout rhizomes,[3][5] that are stoloniferous, forming long thin stolons,[6] or secondary roots deep into the soil.

[10][21] They do not have veining, due to the dark colour of the petals, but they do have a blackish,[10][21] or darker signal patch,[3][5][8] and in the middle of the falls, a row of short hairs called the 'beard', which are yellow,[3][7][9] with purple tips.

[3][29] It was first discovered in Syria, but there is doubt about the proper identification of the plant described as Iris atropurpurea at the time.

[17][6] It is found in the Ilanot Kadima Nature Reserve,[13] a botanical forest garden in the Sharon region, and near the Rishon LeZion Shafdan dunes.

[35] It grows on poor quality sandy soils,[3][7][9] or mixed with gravel,[14] such as found in old sand dunes (or Kurkar Hills,[36]) and along the coastal plains.

[31] The species is normally found with, heliotrope (heliotropium rotundifolium), a figwort (scrophularia xanthoglossa) scabious (scabiosa argentea) and a number of grasses.

[31] In 1964, a law was established in Israel to protect the ten species of iris endemic to the region.

[7] Then in 2008, it was listed by Smida and Polak, in the Red Data Book (the Rare and Endangered Plants of Israel.)

[37] In 2009, the Israel Supreme Court upheld a plan to build an apartment complex near a seasonal lake which had a large population of the iris.

[38] Also in 2009, the Supreme Court denied an application to build houses on Ness Ziona's famous Iris Hill.

[39] Populations of the iris, also can be found in 'Poleg nature reserve' (near Netanya),[25] in the Beit Netufa Valley (which has 60 species of unique plants in danger of extinction).

[40] It is hardy to a dry Mediterranean-like climate,[18] although within the UK,[12] and some parts of the US, it is recommended to be grown in pots in a frost-free greenhouse with forced ventilation.

[43] Mature clumps of plants can be divided every three years, and they need to be re-planted in September, when humidity is lowering and temperatures are milder.

[23] The problem is that its populations have become so fragmented, with no natural flight path for bees between them, that they are now becoming reliant on man, who pollinates them instead, to maintain the genetic variability in the species.

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