Iris 'Starwoman'
Words: Graham Rice
This particular iris was raised by American breeder Marky Smith and originally introduced in 1998. It is an exceptional plant; you can see how dramatical and colourful an individual flower looks from the picture, but there is far more to ‘Starwoman’ than just its colour. In the recent recent trial it really stood out, with the assessment panel summarising it as a health growing plant with strong stems that are well-branched. Add that to those impressive flowers and you have an iris that is worth investing in.
The standards (the petals that stand upwards) are a rich and sultry bluish-purple, and the falls (the lower petals) are the same rich shade but with a white zone towards the throat. All the petals are gently waved and the flowers are also fragrant.
‘Starwoman’ is an Intermediate Bearded iris because it is a little shorter and flowers a little earlier than the familiar Tall Bearded irises that most of us grow. ‘Starwoman’ reaches about 62cm (25in) in height and flowers in late April and May - Tall Bearded irises tend to flower in late May and June and may reach 1m (39in).
And there’s one more thing: In 2008, ‘Starwoman’ won The Dykes Medal, the top national award for irises in the United States, which is usually only given to Tall Bearded irises.
Iris ‘Starwoman’ is available from these RHS Plantfinder nurseries.