[2] The leaves can grow up to 14–15 cm (6–6 in) long,[3] they are shorter (than the flowering stem) at the time of blooming.

[2] It has a sharply reflexed blade and dense central beard of white hairs, which are tipped in purple or lilac.

[2] It has a cuneate (wedge shaped) haft with sparse beard extending onto blade.

It has a short pedicel and the remains of the perianth tube can still be found at the top of the capsule.

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

[8] It has a chromosome count: 2n = 22[3][7] The Latin specific epithet heweri refers to Professor Thomas Frederick Hewer (born 12 April 1903 - 15 March 1994), who became a practising pathologist in 1935.

[9] When he retired in 1959,[10] he went on several plant hunting expeditions to the Alps, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan.

[9][10] Specimens of Iris heweri were originally collected by Prof Hewer in 1969.

[2][3][5] It is hardy to European Zone H4,[4] in most other areas, it can be grown in an alpine house or bulb frame.