Sun/shade. Evergreen, with fanned, strap-like leaves up to about three feet. Flower stalks appear in very early spring; the flowers are elegantly detailed, with upright standards, falling sepals, and a fuzzy “beard” cascading down the center of each signal. Color and height varies, but iris is available in nearly every color of the rainbow.
Names like “Poor Man’s Orchid” don’t even begin to hint at the beauty and durability of this perennial. Include iris in any perennial or cut-flower garden; it is easy to grow, and endures even after homesites are abandoned.
Occasional grooming. Leaves may decline and brown as the plant goes dormant in summertime. Iris is fairly drought tolerant, but appreciates some summer water in exposed sites. Clumps may be divided every 3-4 years; new leaves emerge from rhizomes in spring.
