About
A bulbous perennial to 65cm with upright, narrow leaves and, from mid-spring to mid-summer, violet-blue flowers, the standards paler and the falls marked with a yellow, central splash.
About the genus
Iris may be rhizomatous or bulbous perennials, with narrow leaves and erect stems bearing flowers with 3 large spreading or pendent fall petals, alternating with 3 erect, often smaller, standard petals, in late winter, spring or early summer
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeBulbs, Herbaceous Perennial
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
ToxicityHarmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
CultivationGrow in any good garden soil, improving drier soils with well-rotted organic matter. See bulb iris cultivation for more information
PruningCut down old flower stems after flowering; remove dying foliage in autumn
PropagationPropagate by division, separating bulb offsets from midsummer to early autumn
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs and snails
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to leaf spots, ink disease, rust diseases, bulb rot and viruses; see Iris diseases for more details