Introducing...
Irises for wet or moist soil
Sometimes called Laevigatae or water irises, these vigorous clumping plants add flashes of colour to the shallow margins of a pond or streamside in late spring and early summer.
Looks
Stately perennials with stiff upright leaves, shooting upwards from the base.They have brightly coloured flowers, usually smaller than those of border irises.
Likes
These irises need reliably damp soil (ideally acidic) in a sunny position to thrive. They can be grown in containers placed on a shelf at the edge of a pond.
Dislikes
They will not grow in dry soil or in deep shade. Water irises tolerate ordinary garden soil, but grow with less vigour than when planted in wet ground.
Did you know?
The flowers of water-loving Iris pseudocorus are familiar as a heraldic symbol – their shapes have been adapted to make the fleur-de-lys and (it's sometimes thought) the Prince of Wales feathers.
Growing guide
How to grow irises for wet or moist soil
All the information you'll need to grow and care for these irises in your garden.
Irises we recommend for wet soil
Iris laevigata 'Variegata' (v)
variegated Japanese iris
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Iris × robusta 'Dark Aura'
iris 'Dark Aura'
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Iris pseudacorus 'Roy Davidson'
yellow flag 'Roy Davidson'
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Iris laevigata 'Variegata' (v)
variegated Japanese iris
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Iris × robusta 'Dark Aura'
iris 'Dark Aura'
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Iris pseudacorus 'Roy Davidson'
yellow flag 'Roy Davidson'
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Useful advice
Aquatic plants: planting
Bog gardens
Iris sawfly
Pond plant propagation
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.