In the 1821, a Louisiana flag (Iris fulva) was painted by his assistant Joseph Mason, then Audubon added his pair of parula warblers.

[7] Other notable physiological characteristics of the species are its big size (3-4 inches in diameter) and drooping petals.

Iris hexagona located in Louisiana dwell in wet areas of full or half shade, more specifically ditches, canals, swamps, and slow flowing streams.

The irises' pattern of growth moves up the state of Louisiana, ventures north into the Mississippi Valley of Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, and Ohio.

This Gulf Coast species is an extremely large blue native plant, found commonly in the City of New Orleans.

Yet only a few remaining native, wild-growing irises can be found in Louisiana wetlands, located 20 to 30 miles north of New Orleans.

[11] The common name derives from its native habitat that is located in an exclusive area in Southeast Abbeville, Louisiana.

[16] The unique Iris nelsonii species can only be found in the Turkey Island Swamp in Vermillion Parish, Louisiana—property that is privately owned.

[17] Amity Bass and Chris Reid are two botanists that are currently involved in the protection and conservation of the species in Louisiana.

[18] They have been involved in surveying the privately owned property where the endemic plant resides, and are currently in the process of transplanting some of the rhizomes to replant in a neighboring state park.

[17][18] By replanting the species and opening educational exhibits, the relatively new hot topic of this endemic plant is now gaining more public awareness.

This awareness helped gain the approval for legislative funding by Representative Simone Champagne of Jeanerette in 2011.

[18] Changes are a result of the seasonal occurrence of hurricanes in Louisiana and coastal wetland erosion, that sequentially drains into the nearby swamp.

It was once thought to be a variety of Iris hexagona, but then various botanists made the case it was different enough in form and flower to be treated as a separate species.