Family Iridaceae.
Originating from Europe to Central Asia.
- Upright, grassy foliage forms dense, lush clumps.
- Deep-blue blooms with gold and white markings flower in summer.
- A hardy, easy-to-grow herbaceous perennial for any soil in full sun.
Siberian Flag in Your Garden
A profusion of luxuriously velvety, deep purple-blue blousy blooms make a rich and shapely display in summer. The flowers sway over a clump of slender, yet upright, lush grassy foliage, making a high-impact vertical statement.
A rhizomatous species, its fleshy roots slowly spread making a clump 1.5m high and 50cm wide in 2–5 years, blooming from mid to late summer. Its vigorous sword-like foliage makes attractive, dense mounds of bristly-looking leaves before the floral main attraction. It makes a stunning sight planted in drifts in prairie-like schemes or large borders. Alternatively, its abundant foliage and rich flowers suit exotic gardens.
This hardy summer-flowering blue perennial is suitable for all UK gardens. Its cool and handsomely marked blooms appear for over 2 months. Each flower spike produces a succession of buds, opening to a complex petal structure. Each one has handsome dark-purple veins, with the upright petals crowning a large pendulous ‘fall’. This showy petal bears golden and white markings, accentuating its showy purple stripes.
Growing Tips for Siberian Flag Iris
- Soil and Sun: Plant in any moisture-retentive, non-waterlogged soil; full sun or partial shade works.
- Planting: Set in spring or autumn; summer planting requires extra attention to watering. Plunge for 20 minutes to drench the root ball before planting. Add compost or any organic matter in thin soils to improve moisture retention and apply as a mulch.
- Watering: Although this tough species tolerates drought once rooted, for optimal lushness, water and mulch during dry spells, especially while establishing.
- Pruning: None required, its neat clumps maintain a healthy look throughout the season. Cut back dead foliage in late autumn.
This tough, hardy summer-flowering blue perennial is suited to exposed maritime climates in North Norfolk’s traditional English borders. Furthermore, its adaptability to dappled woodland shade in Suffolk’s seaside gardens highlights its versatility both in style and growing conditions. A rewarding and easy species to grow, it adds a rare, rich shade of blue-purple to any garden setting.
Planting Ideas for Iris sibirica
Create a calming, cool blue and purple sea of flowers for all seasons. Trachystemon orientalis begins the season’s azure palette in early spring. Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’ picks up the baton in mid-spring with Brunnera ‘Dawson’s White’ and ‘Hadspen Cream’. Delphinium ‘Black Knight’ adds complementary upright blue flower spikes in summer. Contrast with soft and hazy lavender-blue Limonium platyphyllum and Salvia ‘Blue Spire’.
Add white to seriously chill. The icy blooms of Hesperantha ‘Snow Maiden’, Anemone ‘Whirlwind’, and Penstemon ‘Pensham Wedding Day’ add late-summer frosting. Cornus canadensis and Dianthus arenarius add spring and summer brilliance at a low level.
