Iris 'Color Splash' (TB) — Clump forming

Overview

Iris 'Color Splash' (TB) is a clump forming herbaceous perennial in the genus Iris, part of the Iridaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Iris 'Color Splash' (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 'Color Splash' is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the Iridaceae that flowers from May to July. It carries deciduous foliage and performs best in a sunny, sheltered spot. Plant in a neutral loam that drains freely and faces south, east or west. Suited to borders, containers and cutting for indoor display.

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 'Color Splash' is a cultivated iris cultivar in the family Iridaceae, grown for its seasonal flowering display. The plant is herbaceous and clump forming, with leaves that die back after the season; blooms appear between May and July. Treat it as a seasonal summer-flowering specimen rather than a structural evergreen. Choose a south-, east- or west-facing site that receives full sun and shelter from prevailing exposure. Neutral loam that is well drained suits this iris; avoid heavy, waterlogged ground. The hardiness rating H6 means the plant is very hardy in most UK gardens, surviving winter conditions provided roots are not left in saturated soil. Use Iris 'Color Splash' in flower borders and beds, city courtyards and patios, or to supply cut flowers. It also adapts to containers when planted in a free-draining loam mix and placed in a sunny, sheltered position. Allow clumps room to expand and lift and divide crowded plants to renew flowering and keep stems clear of surrounding foliage for the best display and easier cutting.

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 'Color Splash' (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