'Purple Flame' Blue Flag Iris
Perennial
- Stunning iris with eggplant purple foliage & flowers!
- Large open flowers are a feeding platform for hummingbirds.
- Native perennial for wet soils, perfect for river banks, pond edges, or rain gardens.
- Purple flowers look stunning in cut flower arrangements.
- Zones 2-7, sun to part sun, up to 2-3' tall x 2-3' wide.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Irises may look delicate, but don't let their appearance fool you! They're low maintenance and easier to grow than other types of irises. They tolerate wet soils, making them a problem solver for troublesome wet sites. Green-blue foliage grows in attractive clumps. This worry-free perennial is disease- and pest-resistant, making it perfect for those looking for something striking yet easy to care for.
Details
Common name: Blue flag iris
Zone: 2-7
Sun exposure: Sun (6+ hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Soil type: Average to high moisture.
Height x width: 2-3’ tall x 2-3’ wide
Flower color: Purple
Foliage color: Purple
Bloom time: Late spring, summer.
Features: Native, deer-resistant, rabbit-resistant, heat tolerant, cold tolerant, drought tolerant, wet soils, pollinator-friendly, rain garden, cut flower
Uses: Accent, background, border, cottage garden, foundation planting, massing, naturalizing, rain garden, specimen
How to Grow
Light: Sun (6+ hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun). In hot, southern zones, best to give them afternoon shade.
Water: They prefer lots of water in the spring. Give them about an inch of water a week.
Spacing: 3-4’ apart.
Fertilizing: Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 and again after bloom season to encourage growth for next year.
Maintenance and pruning: Remove spent blooms. Divide plants every four years if you see a reduction in flowering performance. Cut back Siberian foliage only after it turns brown and withers in late fall. Cutting off all leaves an inch or two above ground level is recommended.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.