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

[7][8][9] A semi-albino form with a white-yellowish,[7] or golden yellow flower and a dark red signal patch, has been recorded.

[15] In 2002, a genetic analysis study was carried out on I. haynei and Iris atrofusca in Israel, to find the DNA markers and phenotypic variation.

[25][31] The Latin specific epithet haynei refers to William Amherst Hayne (1847–1873),[32][33] (from Trinity College, Cambridge),[34] who was a botanist, who went with Tristram,[7] to the ruins of Ataruz and Machaerus (Mukawir) in 1873.

[5] It was originally found in Palestine,[10][36] on Mount Gilboa,[37] by Hayne in April 1872,[38] and then it was first published and described by John Gilbert Baker in The Gardeners' Chronicle Vol.6 on page 710 in 1876.

[51] On Mount Gilboa, the iris can be found growing alongside Ferula communis and Euphorbia hierosolymitana, near Pistacia lentiscus and Ceratonia siliqua, and at the edges of planted Aleppo pine forests.

[38] It was also thought that within the nature reserves, there needed to be controlled cattle grazing to reduce plant competition from aggressive grasses, herbs and thistles.

[38] It is also found in Jalaboun (Important Plant Area), which has a typical Mediterranean climate and consists of open 'maquis' (chaparral), with olive groves and fields of wheat and pasture.

[54] Before the creation of the Mount Gilboa Nature Reserve, the iris was threatened by deforestation,[38] in 1950, the Jewish National Fund (JNF) led by Yosef Weitz, built a village near the Arab towns (on the Mount) to provide a new site for Jewish emigrants from Yemen.

Alon then confronted Sharon Weitz (Yosef's son and head of the northern region Forestry Department).

Yosef agreed to a change in the tree plans, and left the upper region of Barkan Mount, unplanted.

[20] Parts of the mount, could not be re-forested due to high amounts of kaolinite clay, which stopped tree growth.

[55] By February 1966, the populations of the iris were very scattered, making reproduction via pollination very difficult, also they were attacked by porcupines and rodents.

[6][57] In 2003, an eco-friendly settlement (called 'Michal' with 120 housing units) was planned to be built on the eastern slope of the mount, it was proved by the INPA, who managed the land.

[15] Then in 2005, the 'Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel' (SPNI) carried out a survey on the mount (the site of the new proposed settlement), and over 3,500 iris plants were recorded.

[29][33] A coalition of Israeli scientists and the SPNI had objected to the planned settlement of 'Michal',[19] which would risk "total extinction" of the iris.

Another scientist warned that the light, pets, gardens, and utilities from the settlement could affect an area on the mountain 10 times larger than its footprint of homes.

[15] The SPNI also worked with The Gilboa Guard (or Mishmar Hagilboa) a local grassroots organization to provide opposition to the plan.

[26][58] Later another nature reserve was created (by the government on the development site) to protect the iris and other endangered wildflowers on the mount,[29] The cancellation of the plan, then enforced the status of the SPNI, as an environmental organisation and public representative, and now proved in law.

[61] Professor Yoram Yom-Tov of Tel Aviv University, was one of 60 scientists who signed an open letter against the transfer.

"[59] The feud between the two groups also includes the Tu Bishvat planting ceremony by JNF of oak trees in the Lower Galilee's Beit Keshet (a kibbutz, near Nazareth).

The JNF think they are best placed to run it, but the SPNI deputy director general Nir Papai told Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan that the JNFs "organizational and statutory structure are unsuitable for the structure required by a government authority managing forests.

[11] In general, they need good drainage,[62] minimal summer rainfall and dry winters,[12] similar to a semi-arid climate.

[45] In temperate areas (such as the Europe and America), they are only suitable for growing by specialist iris growers, within a bulb frame or greenhouse.

[12][62] They can be grown under glass (in frames), to protect the irises from excess moisture (especially during winter times) and also to ensure the (shallow planted) rhizomes get the best temperatures during the growing season.

[21][73] Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), and if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting.

[75] One source states that Iris bismarckiana (also known as 'Iris nazareth') was chosen,[76] as the logo of The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel in 1970,[38] but it was in fact I.