Iris graminea is a reddish-purple beardless iris with purple standards, purple style arms, and violet falls that have distinctive purple veins. The stems stand 8 to18 inches high, each bearing 2 buds in June. It has a sweet plum-like fragrance and is sometimes called the plum-scented iris. The foliage is grass like, forming clumps which may partially hide the flowers. In 1994 the Royal Horticultural Society gave Iris graminea the prestigious Award of Garden Merit. It is native from central Europe to Russia and the Caucacus region.