It is a rhizomatous perennial in the Jabal al-Druze region in Syria, where it grows at about 1600 m. It has thin and long, greyish-green, semi-evergreen leaves.

It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, as it needs very dry conditions during the summer.

It is a geophyte,[2] which has small rhizomes, that are on the surface of the soil, so that they can feel the heat of the sun.

[3] It has greyish-green, semi-evergreen leaves, which are thin and can grow up to between 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long.

[9] The falls are orbiculate (or circular) or pendulum shaped, with[4] a maroon or reddish,[6] signal patch,[8][4] and red,[4] or brown veining.

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

[3][6] The Latin specific epithet auranitica refers to resembling an orange or orange-coloured.

[16] It is listed as endemic plant of Syria, along with 200 other vascular plants including Iris assadiana (another Oncoyclus section iris), Teucrium coniortodes, Allium pseudophanerantherum, Allium birkinshawii, Ajuga chasmophila, Echium pabotii, Astragalus qatmensis, Astragalus roessleri, Centaurea trachonitica, Salsola zenobiae, Senecio delbesianus, Thymus alfredae, Vicia kalakhensis, Onobrychis gaillardotii, and Alyssum antilibanoticum.

Some seeds need stratification, (the cold treatment), which can be carried out indoors or outdoors.

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