Wetland plan with sword-like leaves that violet and blue in color. This native plant grows to 2-3 feet tall and the leaves form a flattened fan-like cluster. 
 
From the nearly straight flowering stems emerge large blue to violet-blue showy flowers. They bloom from May to July. The three petaled flowers are often finely variegated with yellow, green, and white. The flower develops a three celled capsule which is about 1 1/2 inches long and 3/4 of an inch in diameter. 

It is typically encountered in marshes, swamps, wet meadows, along shorelines, and in forested wetlands. It performs best on sites with unconsolidated soils high in organic content, in direct sunlight. It will tolerate moderately brackish water, partial shade, and permanent inundation u
to 6 inches deep.