The Iris garden in Florence

This flower has a special meaning that transcends human history. It is often associated with good humor, longevity, love, passion, and wisdom.
In short, all the characteristics you would wish for yourself the Iris has them!
This association probably comes from the fact that some extracted preparations from the plant boast diuretic, emollient and expectorant properties that have always helped humans recover their health even in ancient times.

In fact, the beauty of this flower was already known to the ancient Greeks, who named it after their own deity (the goddess Iris),who was the personification of the rainbow and divine messenger. The flower is also often portrayed in paintings, as it was often found in the daily lives of our ancestors, and its typical shape can be found in paintings from all historical periods.

Although there is no certain version of how the symbol of the city of Florence, which is the “Lily of Florence,” came into being, some versions report that it may have been inspired precisely by the shape of the red Iris flower.
It was from this very idea that the “Competition for the flower that matches the coat of arms of Florence the most” was born. Believe it or not, it takes place every year in May at the Iris Garden.

The Garden was born in 1954 to host an International Competition.
Since the city boasted a special bond to this flower it was decided that Florence would maintain the Iris Garden forever. To this day it hosts many varieties and has become a true center for specialists, botanists, hybridizers and horticulturists who often come from foreign nations to study them.