It is native to the Altai Mountains in Central Asia, where Russia, China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan meet.

[2] It has between 2 and 4, linear, grass-like, lanceolate, 20–40 cm (8–16 in) long,[4][5][6] and 5 mm wide leaves.

The centre of the falls is covered with short unicellular hairs,[3] (looking similar to a yellow beard).

[7] In 2003, a study was carried out on the chromosome sequencing of various irises from the Siberian region of central Asia.

[9] The Latin specific epithet ludwigii refers to the collector of the type specimen, who is not further identified in the protolog.

[10][11][12] It was originally published and described by Karl Johann Maximowicz in the 'Bulletin of the Academy of Imperial Science, Saint-Pétersburg Vol.26 pages508-509 in 1880.

[18] It grows on the steppes,[2] in meadows, in thickets of Neotrinia splendens, and on gravelly slopes.

[6] It is at risk due to the effects of cattle grazing, ploughing and other farming methods.

[12] In April 2005, a Working draft of Species Action Plan for Iris ludwigii was created for the at risk plants on the Altai Mountains.

[19] It is mentioned as one of the 17 species of plants are included in the 'Red Book of Kazakhstan', and they are: Steppe peony (Paeonia hybrida), Spring asphodel, (Adonis vernalis), Pink rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea), Altai rhubarb (Rheum altaicum), Altai daphne (Daphne altaica), Snow (Macropodium nivale), Siberian adder's-tongue (Erythronium sibiricum), Maral root (Rhaponticum carthamoides), Vereschagin (Limnas veresczaginii), Heteropetals tulip (Tulipa heteropetala), Small-fruit cranberry (Oxycoccus microcarpus), (Cymbaria dahyrica), Altai anthrax (Sibiraea altaiensis), Stemless (Leiospora excapa), Altai gimnospermium (Gimnospermium altaicum) and Fir club moss (Lycopodium selago).

5 species of plant were put into the 'Red Book of Russian Federation', they are Steppe peony (Paeonia hybrida), Altai rhubarb (Rheum altaicum), Altai daphne (Daphne altaica), Ludwig iris (Iris ludwigii) and Siberian adder's-tongue (Erythronium sibiricum).

[2] In nature and in cultivation, it was found that the plant, flowers but they are sterile with underdeveloped stamens.

[10] It is hardy enough to grow and be cultivated in the botanical gardens of Barnaul, Novosibirsk and Chita, Zabaykalsky Kra, in Russia.