Iris 'Deep Purple' (TB) — Clump forming

Overview

Iris 'Deep Purple' (TB) is a clump forming herbaceous perennial in the genus Iris, part of the Iridaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Iris 'Deep Purple' (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 'Deep Purple' is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the iris family that flowers from May to July and is grown for borders, containers and cutting. It has deciduous, sword-shaped leaves and performs best in full sun on neutral loam with good drainage. Choose a south-, east- or west-facing, sheltered spot to give the clumps the protection and light they prefer. It is rated H6, so it will tolerate very cold UK winters when otherwise well sited.

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

A member of the Iridaceae, Iris 'Deep Purple' is a garden iris valued for its late-spring to early-summer display and its suitability for cutting. Flowering runs from May to July, and the plant is typically used in flower borders, courtyard and city gardens, patios or containers. The foliage is deciduous and forms neat clumps through the season. Site this iris in full sun on a neutral loam with reliable drainage; avoid waterlogged ground. If the soil is heavy, improve drainage with grit or coarse sand and a little organic matter while keeping the soil pH close to neutral. A sheltered position on a south-, east- or west-facing aspect reduces wind damage to flowering stems and helps protect the crowns through winter. The H6 rating denotes very hardy plants in UK terms, so winter protection beyond siting is usually unnecessary. Planting in containers is acceptable where drainage is excellent; containers also bring the benefit of moving the plant to a sunny, sheltered corner. Use clumps in mixed borders or courtyard beds where their May–July flowering can be combined with later perennials. For cutting, harvest stems during the May to July window to get blooms at their best for the vase.

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 'Deep Purple' (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