It is native to China, Burma and India, it has lavender or light blue flowers.

[16][17] Iris wattii is the tallest species of all the crested irises.

[11] The stems have 3–5 spathes (leaves of the flower bud), which are thin, green and narrowly ovate.

[3][4][14] In Australia, it flowers earlier in the year, beginning in early winter and to late spring.

[4][13][10] They have a central whitish crest area, which is spotted with darker lilac and a deep yellow, or orange-yellow.

[11] After the iris has flowered, it produces a cylindrical or oblong,[10][12] seed capsule, between May and August.

[23] In 2009, a study was carried out on ten iris species from China.

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

[25] It is written as 扇形鸢尾 in Chinese script and known as shan xing yuan wei in Pidgin in China.

[26] The Latin specific epithet wattii refers to George Watt,[11][27] who collected an iris specimen of the species, on Khongui Hill, Manipur.

[10] An illustration of the iris, was published by Everard and Morley, in 'Wildflowers of the World', plate107 in 1970.

[16] It grows in grasslands (and meadows) at forest margins and beside rivers (on riverbanks).

[13] It may survive mild winters or endure light frosts,[6] with temperatures as low as −16C °, especially if the plants have been mulched.

[3][22] It is not hardy in northern climates, it should therefore be grown in a greenhouse,[14][17] or a cold Alpine house.

[11] It should be grown in well-drained, light rich (containing humus) soils.

[2][3][5][8][9][15][22] But does not like (exposed sites – prone to high winds, due to the height of the plant).

[5][8][15] It will not tolerate standing water,[8][9] also wet or damp conditions during the winter may cause the root to rot.

[10] Including; Others known; 'Biswat', 'Isis', 'Johnston clone', 'The Ellis Wattii', 'Trengwainton', 'Ward's Form' and 'Wattii Alba',[10] Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting.