Neomarica northiana (Schneev.) Sprague 1928, commonly called Walking Iris, Apostle Plant or North’s false flag, is a tropical, rhizomatous plant, native to Brazil.

The Walking Iris (Neomarica northiana) with its stunning flowers belongs to the Iris family (Iridaceae) and gets a height of about 60 cm - 1 meter. Neomarica northiana is easily confused with the smaller Neomarica candida, which have black stamina, whilst Neomarica northiana has a more pure white colour and white-yellow stamina. The slightly fragrant flowers, with a scent reminescent of tobacco get a size of about 10 cm in diameter and last just for one day.
Flowering period: Spring - Autumn. Flowers grow on short inflorescences which appear sideways of the leaves. As the weight of the flowers bend the leaves downwards to the ground, where the new born plantlets can establish their roots, the tropical plant got its common name Walking Iris.

Based on as it is known in common parlance, Neomarica plants will not flower until they have at least 12 leaves, they got the common name Apostle Plants or 12 Apostle Plants. Whilst the big Giant Walking Iris (Neomarica caerulea) tolerates temperatures until about – 6°C, Neomarica northiana doesn`t tolerate freezing temperatures below about 4°C. The impressive, tropical plant is best cultivated in partial shade and requires regularly waterings.

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Image: Walking Iris ( Neomarica northiana)