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Identifying a Wild Iris in the Black Hills of South Dakota

Wild Iris
You spotted a solitary iris in the Black Hills. It’s likely Iris missouriensis, a species native to northern North America, which matches your location.

For a definitive ID, consider consulting a plant identification expert or using a dedicated forum.

Perennials: Iris Seed Pods, Cross-Pollination, and Rhizome Division; Overwintering Pond Iris in Kansas: Which Varieties Survive?; Transplanting Iris Under Oak Trees and Deterring Moles; Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia): Wild Grape Identification and Pollination Needs; Walking Iris (Neomarica): Fragrant Blooms That "Walk" Across the Garden; Tall Bearded Iris 'Wild Wings': A 1998 Keppel Introduction; Wild Iris (Iris setosa): Northern Flag and Beachhead Iris; Wild Bearded Iris (Iris germanica): The Ancestral Flag; Iris ensata: Japanese Iris with Huge Purple Blooms for Wet Sites; Iris fulva: Louisiana Iris with Terra Cotta Blooms for Water Gardens

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