Blue Iris Relocation Completed at Palmetto Island State Park

February 4, 2026 Abbeville, La.

A coordinated conservation effort at Palmetto Island State Park on Monday, February 2nd, resulted in the successful relocation of several hundred native blue Louisiana irises (Iris giganticaerulea) from a roadside population near the park’s boat launch area.

One of the blue Iris giganticaerulea plants, a Louisiana iris species, is shown from a clump of several hundred irises discovered growing along a road within Palmetto Island State Park in 2024.

The project was carried out through a partnership between the Louisiana Conservation Corps (LCC), three volunteers from the Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative (LICI)—Ed Wilhelm, Gary Salathe, and David Duvic—and park volunteers working on long-term iris restoration goals within the park’s boardwalk swamp.

The relocation effort stems from concerns identified during last year’s iris bloom, when blue Louisiana irises were found growing along the road leading to the boat launch, less than 1/8 mile from the park’s boardwalk swamp iris restoration site. That site is being managed specifically to support a genetically focused population of the Abbeville Red iris (Iris nelsonii).

Because of the proximity between the two populations, conservation partners determined there was a potential risk of cross-pollination, which could introduce hybridization into the managed I. nelsonii population. Protecting the genetic integrity of the Abbeville Red iris is a key objective of the ongoing restoration project.

Blue non-Iris nelsonii Louisiana irises are shown being removed from the boardwalk swamp at Palmetto Island State Park in 2023 at the start of the iris restoration project.

Since LICI became involved in iris restoration work at the park, volunteers and partners have observed and removed non-I. nelsonii hybrid irises emerging within the boardwalk swamp restoration area each spring. In response, seed pods have been consistently removed after flowering to help prevent the establishment of unintended hybrids.

The removal and relocation of nearby blue iris populations is intended to further reduce the likelihood of hybridization pressure on the managed I. nelsonii stand.

During Monday’s workday, the combined crews carefully excavated and relocated more than 650 blue iris plants. The irises were transplanted to a small bayou area near the Boy Scout group campground within the park, where native blue Louisiana irises already occur naturally.

The receiving site was prepared in advance to ensure successful establishment, with vegetation cleared prior to planting to allow for efficient reintroduction of the relocated plants.

LCC workers and LICI volunteers are seen digging blue Iris giganticaerulea Louisiana irises growing along a park road less than 1/8 mile from the Iris nelsonii restoration project in the boardwalk swamp.

Conservation volunteers expressed hope that, following the removal of non-target iris populations from sensitive areas in previous seasons and the completion of this relocation effort, upcoming spring blooms will confirm the boardwalk swamp is now free of non-I. nelsonii irises.

If successful, this would mark a significant milestone in the project, potentially allowing for the first controlled seed collection directly from the boardwalk swamp restoration site beginning in July—an important step toward expanding propagation efforts for the Abbeville Red iris.

The goal of all involved in the Palmetto Island State Park iris restoration project is for all irises in the boardwalk swamp to be pure Iris nelsonii. This would allow seed pods to be collected each summer without concern that flowers were cross-pollinated with other iris species.

Partners involved in the effort extended appreciation to the Louisiana Conservation Corps for their substantial field assistance and to all volunteers contributing to the long-term restoration of native Louisiana irises at Palmetto Island State Park.