Overview

Iris 'Moment to Treasure' (TB) is a plant with a clump-forming habit in the genus Iris, part of the Iridaceae family, with sword-shaped foliage. Iris 'Moment to Treasure' (TB) grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam soils and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H7. Suggested uses include borders, rock gardens and containers.

About

Iris 'Moment to Treasure' is a clump-forming Iris that reliably flowers from May to July. It carries a rosette of sword-shaped leaves that give architectural structure through the season. Best grown in full sun on neutral, well-drained loam with a south-facing, sheltered aspect. Suitable for borders, rock gardens and containers where its flowering window fills late spring into early summer.

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 'Moment to Treasure' is a named cultivar within the Iridaceae grown for its seasonal display between May and July. As a clump-forming variety it produces a defined grouping of sword-shaped foliage, making it straightforward to place as a structural accent in mixed plantings. Origin details are not required to use it effectively in a UK garden; treat it as a sun-loving iris cultivar suited to temperate conditions. Plant on a south-facing, sheltered site in freely draining loam of neutral pH and give as much direct sun as possible to encourage repeat flowering and sturdy growth. It carries an H7 rating, which in practical terms means it is fully hardy across the UK and can be left in the open over winter without special winter protection. Keep soil on the drier side of well-drained during dormant periods to avoid rot. Place Iris 'Moment to Treasure' where its mid-to-late spring flowers can be seen alongside herbaceous perennials or at the front of a border; it also adapts to containers and rock garden crevices provided drainage is assured. Remove spent flower stalks once flowering finishes to tidy the clump, and allow the sword-shaped leaves to remain while they are still green to support the plant's energy reserves through the summer. Its May–July flowering window makes it useful for bridging late spring into early summer displays.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Iris

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Loam

Soil pH

Neutral

Soil moisture

Well-drained

Aspect

South-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H7

Plant details

Iris 'Moment to Treasure' (TB) size, habit and characteristics

Habit

Clump-forming

Foliage

Sword-shaped

Suggested uses

Borders, rock gardens, containers

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Iris 'Moment to Treasure' (TB)

Propagation

Division, seed

Pest resistance

Good

Disease resistance

Good

Frequently asked questions

More in the Iris genus

• 
  Iris 'Antigone' (TB)
• 
  Iris 'Dauntless' (TB)
• 
  Iris 'Dipped in Dots' (TB)
• Iris 'Ablaze' (MDB)
• Iris 'After the Storm' (TB)
• Iris 'Aldo Ratti' (TB)
• Iris 'Alene's New Love' (SDB)iris 'Alene's New Love'
• Iris 'Alpine Lake' (MDB)