WHY DO IRIS FLOWERS HAVE 3 PETALS UP AND 3 PETALS DOWN?
A.J. Saxon, Age 8 Bob Annand is known as Mr. Iris. He is my friend who grows hundreds of irises. Iris flowers need 3 PETALS that grow up and 3 PETALS that grow down. The 3 PETALS that go up are called “standards.” The 3 PETALS that grow down are called “falls.” The standards grow up to protect the stamen in the center of the flower. The falls cover the standard and protect them while the flower bud is growing. When the falls drop below the standard the iris blossoms into a beautiful flower with 3 PETALS up and 3 PETALS down.
