It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Sikkim (a landlocked Indian state located in the Himalayan mountains).

[2][5][6] The stem appears in April,[3] from a tuft of 4 reduced Basal leaf leaves.

[2] The haft (or part of the petal beside the stem) is wedge shaped and white with purple blotching,[1][4] or marbling.

[2] They are lighter in colour to the falls, pale mauve,[2] or lilac,[1] with a fainter mottling of a darker shade.

[1][4][2] It has narrow, deep purple styles,[1][4] with faint stripes,[2] or pale at the edges,[1] and are 2.5 cm long.

[1] It has pale violet filaments, bi-lobed stigma and creamy white anthers.

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

[8] The Latin specific epithet sikkimensis refers to the region of Sikkim (Indian Himalayas) where the iris was found.

[3][2] Due to the fact that Iris sikkimensis does not set seed, it has thought to be more of a hybrid species between the two.

[2] It is also very rare in cultivation, specimens have been lost in Indian herbaria and botanical gardens.

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