This bulbous perennial from Southern Europe and North Africa has long, shiny green leaves, a short stem, and large scented flowers in various shades of blue.

Iris planifolia has a large brown ovoid bulb (around 2 in (51 mm) in diameter),[2] with fleshy cylindrical white roots.

The leaves are lanceolate, beginning narrow at soil level and growing up to a point.

[10] The capsule is oblong, sessile, like that of Colchicum on the surface of the soil in the centre of the leaves.

[13] Fiori and Paoletti in 'Flora Analytica d'Italia', recognized this species as the genus Iris from Millers original entry of Xiphium planifolium.

[6] It is found in Crete, Greece, Sicily, Spain, Portugal,[6] Sardinia,[5] (within North Africa) in Algeria, Libya, Tunisia,[15] and Morocco.

[17] Iris planifolia is found on rocky hillsides,[5] which are generally wet in the winter and dry in the summer.

[2] But the pots need to be a minimum of 30 cm tall (or 1 ft), to allow maximum root space.

[9] It can be propagated naturally as it creates clumps of bulbs, that can be divided, by being very carefully teased apart in late summer.