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Iris is a genus of plants with stately and slightly fragrant flowers. These flowers bloom in all colours of the rainbow, earning the plant the name “Iris,” which is derived from the Greek word for rainbow. Because of its beautiful flowers, the Iris can be found in many gardens as an ornamental plant. The Iris’ 80 centimeter long, sword-shaped leaves are characteristic of this plant. These leaves are, however, still shorter than the stem.
Neither very dry nor very humid weather have a negative impact on the plant. The Iris accumulates excess water in its rhizome or rootstalk, which lies above the ground. During longer dry spells, the plant forms a layer of protection on its leaves and stems. If the air is very humid, it sheds single drops of water at the upper part of its leaves. This protective mechanism serves as the basis in Weleda’s Iris Facial Care Line and is the reason why this key ingredient is used.
1000 kilograms of Iris roots are harvested per year on a cultivated area of 2 hectares in the region Emilia Romagna (Tuscany, Italy). The cultivation is 50% organic and 50% bio-dynamic. These roots are dried there for 24 to 36 hours and then cut and sliced. A ripening process follows. When this process is complete, the roots are boiled, producing an extract. In the final step, organic Alcohol is added as a natural preservative.