Iris 'Autumn Wine' (BB) — Clump forming

Overview

Iris 'Autumn Wine' (BB) is a clump forming herbaceous perennial in the genus Iris, part of the Iridaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Iris 'Autumn Wine' (BB) grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam soils and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H6. Suggested uses include city and courtyard gardens, cottage and informal garden, patio and container plants, cut flowers and flower borders and beds.

About

Iris 'Autumn Wine' is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the Iridaceae grown for its flowering display from May to July. It has deciduous foliage and suits full-sun sites with well-drained, neutral loam. Position in a sheltered, south-, east- or west-facing spot to give the best performance. Suitable for patio containers, cut flowers, borders and informal cottage settings.

About the genus

Iris takes its name from the Greek goddess of the rainbow, and for once the naming feels entirely earned. I can't think of another genus that covers so much ground — inky purples, burnt apricots, clean whites, blues that seem lit from inside — or so many situations. There are bearded irises that want their rhizomes baked in full sun, Siberian types happy in ordinary border soil, and species that will sit contentedly at the edge of a pond. What they share is the flower: three petals standing up, three falling away, built with a kind of architectural confidence most plants never attempt. Even out of bloom the foliage earns its place — those upright fans of blue-green leaves hold a border together for months. I grow them for the fortnight in May and June when nothing else in the garden can compete, and I've made my peace with that. Some plants are for the long haul. An iris is an event.

Written by Henry

In the garden

Iris 'Autumn Wine' sits in the iris family (Iridaceae) as a clump-forming herbaceous perennial valued for its seasonal flowering from May to July. The leaves are deciduous and the plant produces its display over late spring and early summer, after which the foliage dies back. It carries an H6 hardiness rating, meaning it is very hardy where given reasonable winter shelter. Choose a sunny site in loam that is neutral in pH and drains freely; standing water will reduce the plant's vigour. A sheltered aspect — south-, east- or west-facing — helps protect emerging shoots and prolongs the open-flowered period. In pots and containers, use a free-draining loam-based compost and place where it receives full sun; the sheltered exposure requirement applies indoors in courtyards and compact sites as well. Its habit and flowering period suit a range of small-scale uses: city and courtyard gardens, cottage and informal beds, patio containers and flower borders. It also makes a practical garden cut flower, supplying stems during the May–July season for short-lived indoor displays. Plant where the soil is reliably free-draining and position to catch as much sun as possible to make the most of its seasonal flowering.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Iris

Sunlight: Full sun
Soil type: Loam
Soil pH: Neutral
Soil moisture: Well-drained
Aspect: South-facing, East-facing, West-facing
Exposure: Sheltered
UK hardiness: H6

Plant details

Iris 'Autumn Wine' (BB) size, habit and characteristics

Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
Habit: Clump forming
Foliage: Deciduous
Suggested uses: City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Cut flowers, Flower borders and beds