About
A bulbous perennial, maturing to 65cm tall, with narrow, upright, strap-shaped, green leaves and tall, sturdy stems bearing elegant flowers with dark blue standards and paler blue falls with a yellow signal. Perfect for cut flowers.
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
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Sand, Loam
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial, Bulbs
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 moderately fertile, neutral to alkaline, well drained soil in full sun. Plant bulbs at twice their height in late summer or early autumn and feed with a high potash fertiliser after flowering. See bulb iris cultivation for more information
PruningCut back old flower stems after flowering and remove dying foliage in autumn. Lift and separate bulbs in autumn
PropagationPropagate by offsets in late summer or 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