Iris laevigata ‘Variegata’ flowers are a delicate light blue almost 4 inches in diameter. The leaves are very distinctive with contrasting green and white stripes. The stems stand 25 to 30 inches and bloom in late May and early June. It has been hybridized from Iris laevigata, which is native to Japan.

In 1994 Iris laevigata ‘Variegata’ received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. 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.