It is a rhizomatous perennial plant, with yellow, white or violet flowers.

[4][8] Similar to Iris spuria, they also have the ability to produce an offensive smell, when the leaves are bruised.

[3][4] It has flowers that are 5–7 cm (2–3 in) in diameter,[3][7] ranging in colour from white, yellowish to grey purple,[6][8] and violet.

[3][4] Some references mention pale to dark yellow forms with darker veining.

The style branches (in white or yellow, depending on the petal colour) are 3.5 cm long and 6 mm wide.

[14] In 2007, the anti-oxidative components of the rhizome of Iris halophila were studied in Li Xiao Fei's (of Xinjiang University) Master's thesis.

[18] The Latin specific epithet halophila refers to salt loving.

[19] It had the common name of long leafed flag,[20][21][22] It is known as the salt marsh iris in Germany.

[5][25] It was then 3 years later re-published as Iris halophila by Pallas in 'Reise Russ.

[25] As of February 2015[update], it is incorrectly listed as a synonym of Iris spuria by the RHS.

[27] Iris halophila is native to a wide range of temperate regions, from western Europe to Central Asia.

[3][7] In the middle Asian countries of (the former Soviet Union republics of); it is found in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

[3][4] It is also found in Iran (or Persia,[8]), Pakistan and Afghanistan[10][24][3] and within the Caucasus area of Russia.

[2][4][7] It is found in west Asian countries and regions of Siberia, Mongolia and China.

[7][11][29] It is very hardy, seeds very readily and so springs up where more delicate species have died out.

sogdiana (Bunge) Grubov is a known variant,[32] although this was only recently thought as a synonym of Iris halophila.