Iris cristata has blue to lavender flowers with a distinctive orange blotch. It is a dwarf iris standing only 6 inches high, native to floodplains from Maryland to Oklahoma. It thrives in shade, spreads rapidly, and is resistant to deer and rabbits. The name iris was taken from the Greek goddess of the rainbow to symbolize the many colors of this flower. The classic Fleur de Lys, which has been a symbol of royalty throughout history, was an adaptation of the iris flower.