Iris 'City of Lincoln' (TB) — Clump forming

Overview

Iris 'City of Lincoln' (TB) is a clump forming herbaceous perennial in the genus Iris, part of the Iridaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Iris 'City of Lincoln' (TB) 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 'City of Lincoln' is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the Iridaceae that flowers from May to July. The foliage is deciduous and the plant forms discrete clumps suited to shaping a border or container. It needs full sun and a well-drained neutral loam in a sheltered, south-, east- or west-facing spot. Common uses include city and courtyard planting, patio containers, cut flowers and mixed flower borders.

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 'City of Lincoln' is a herbaceous perennial in the iris family, grown for its season of bloom between May and July. As a clump-forming plant with deciduous foliage, it produces a sequence of flowering stems suitable for cutting and placing in mixed borders or contained planting schemes. Specific origin details are not required to use it effectively in gardens. Plant into a well-drained loam with a neutral pH and give the site full sun; a sheltered position on a south-, east- or west-facing aspect helps protect emerging shoots. The hardiness rating H6 corresponds to very hardy, so plants will survive typical UK winters in an open garden when sited correctly. Exposure should be sheltered rather than exposed, which reduces the risk of stem damage in late spring. Use Iris 'City of Lincoln' where upright summer colour and cut flowers are needed: it suits city and courtyard gardens where space is at a premium, patio containers, cottage and informal borders, and mixed flower beds. Because flowering is concentrated from May to July it pairs well with later- and earlier-flowering perennials to extend visual interest, and the stems make dependable material for vases during that period.

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 'City of Lincoln' (TB) 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