This group of irises includes both tall and short plants, with flowers in a bewildering range of colours, all with the distinctive 'beard' on the falls. They include the so-called German irises. They have rhizomes that lie close to or on the surface of the soil, and like to be baked in summer.

Iris furcata comes from the Caucasus mountains and has short creeping surface rhizomes. Often considered as a synonym with Iris aphylla but this is till being debated!