It is fairly tall, with long and slender glaucous leaves, and in late spring, lilac-purple to pinkish or violet flowers with deeper veining and blackish-violet signal and dark purple beard.

[6][8][13] The large flowers are 8–10 cm (3–4 in) in diameter,[12] and come in shades of lilac,[8] pinkish,[9][12] or violet.

[6][12][4] In the middle of the falls, also is a row of short hairs called the 'beard', which is black,[6][5] or purple.

[13][2][8] It is written in Hebrew as איריס הנגב [13][2] and in Arabic script as سوسن النقب[2] It was named after Mary, mother of Jesus,[8] and is sometimes incorrectly called Iris mairiae.

[6][16] It was originally found in Egypt,[17] and was first named by William Barbey as Iris helenae.

[18][4][22] Within Israel it is found in the Negev Desert,[2][3][7] including Tze'elim,[13] Palestine (region),[6][20] and within Egypt on the Sinai Peninsula.

[6][10] Within IUCN Red Data Book of 2006 there are 6 threatened plant species found near Lake Bardawil, Egypt these include Astragalus camelorum, Bellevalia salah-eidii, Biorum oliveri, Iris mariae, Lobularia arabica and Salsola tetragona.

[7] It is threatened by illegal harvesting (for the cut flower industry,[25]), climate change, urbanisation, and also from the impacts of modern agriculture.

[8] In Europe, it is hardy to Zone H4,[12] meaning hardy to -5 to -10oC (23 to 14oF)[26] −20 °C (−4 °F) It usually requires very good drainage,[5] restricted water and protection from frosts, although keeping it barely dry during the winter, will make it more cold tolerant.

[5][4] The seed of the iris is deemed easy to germinate but growers should have some experience in growing others in this group of Irises.

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