On a visit to Brookside Gardens earlier this month I was very surprised to see some taller irises already in full bloom. Usually the dwarf irises bloom in March – and then the Bearded Irises bloom starting in May. As I took a closer look at the iris – I realized I’d never seen anything like them before. Fortunately – the staff at Brookside Gardens is really good about putting up signs identifying the plants – and there was one for these irises. They were Snake’s Head Irises (Hermodactylus tuberosus).

Originally native to Yugoslavia, Turkey & Greece, Snake’s Head Irises have been cultivated since the late 1500s. The flowers are very unusual with shades of green and a very dark purple – almost black. Also known as widow’s irises, they are one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring.

Snake’s Head Irises grow from tuberous root shaped somewhat like a hand. The latin name for the flowers refers to Hermes – messenger of the Gods and to finger like shape of the roots.

These unusual flowers do well in Alpine & Rock gardens. They are hardy from USDA Zones 7a to 9b and grow to about 12 – 18″ tall. They should not be eaten since parts of the plants are poisonous.