Iris 'Swazi Princess' (TB) — Clump forming

Overview

Iris 'Swazi Princess' (TB) is a clump forming herbaceous perennial in the genus Iris, part of the Iridaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Iris 'Swazi Princess' (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 'Swazi Princess' is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the Iridaceae that carries its main display between May and July. The foliage is deciduous and the cultivar performs best in full sun on a well-drained loam with a neutral pH. Plant in a sheltered spot with a south-, east- or west-facing aspect. It is suitable for flower borders, containers and cutting for the vase.

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 'Swazi Princess' belongs to the genus Iris and is grown as a herbaceous perennial for its seasonal blooms, which appear from May to July. As a clump-forming cultivar with deciduous leaves, it responds well where roots can dry between waterings and where plants receive direct sunlight through the day. Choose a well-drained loam of neutral pH and site the plant in a sheltered position, facing south, east or west; exposure to wind should be minimised to protect emerging shoots and flower stems. The hardiness rating H6 indicates it is very hardy in UK gardens, so it will tolerate winter conditions across most regions when given the recommended soil and shelter. Avoid waterlogged ground and heavy shade, both of which reduce flowering and encourage rot in the root area. Iris 'Swazi Princess' fits a range of uses: position it in mixed borders where its May–July flush can be seen alongside later and earlier perennials, grow it in containers on a sunlit patio, or raise stems for cutting. Because the main season of interest is the spring-to-early-summer bloom, plant placement should prioritise visibility and easy access to the vase during that May to July window.

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 'Swazi Princess' (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