Saving the Rare Abbeville Red Iris with Palmetto State Park

3 hours ago

Alyssa Schiaffino,

From LICI

ABBEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative (LICI) is a Louisiana non-profit corporation that was initially formed to conserve Louisiana’s native iris species while restoring populations of the giant blue iris (Iris giganticaerulea) along the coast.

However, in April 2026, the LICI announced a mission shift due to its long-term focus on saving the Abbeville Red Iris (Iris nelsonii), which they say is one of Louisiana’s rarest and most threatened native plants.

The Rare Abbeville Red Iris

What makes the Iris nelsonii so rare? The Abbeville Red Iris exists naturally in only one place on the planet, a privately owned swamp in Vermilion Parish, LICI shared in its April press release.

Additionally, Friends of Palmetto, an organization formed to benefit Palmetto State Park, and working with LICI on the Abbeville Red Iris restoration, shares that the flower is the only plant in Louisiana that cannot be found anywhere else.

Restoration Project Timeline and Goals

In 2011, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) proposed the idea of displaying some of the Abbeville Red Irises from the private swamp a few miles away at the Palmetto State Park boardwalk for public enjoyment in a protected area.

The Friends of Palmetto brought the idea to life in 2011 by planting Abbeville Red Irises with guidance from the LDWF. Hybrid, cultivated flora began to grow among the planted Abbeville Red Irises.

COVID-19 stopped the iris work on the Palmetto boardwalk altogether, however, in March 2023, the LICI announced its partnership with Friends of Palmetto to restore the boardwalk irises to purely Abbeville Reds, increase the overall number of Abbeville Red Irises at the park and, eventually, utilize the park-grown flowers to add to the irises’ original home at the Abbeville Swamp.

In June 2023, Louisiana iris grower and LICI volunteer Kent Benton donated hundreds of Red Abbeville Iris seedlings to the Palmetto Island State Park project. And in July 2023, LICI organized an iris seed collection from the Abbeville Swamp with permission from landowners.

Since 2023, the project to save the Abbeville Red Irises has had annual seed collections and blooming events, with many volunteers and donors making every step possible.

Just this week, LICI has shared two Facebook posts regarding Abbeville Red donations from Pan Breaux and Kent Brenton.

LICI shares its 2026 seed germination partners: