Iris germanica

RHS Plant Profile

bearded iris

Other common names

common German flag, common iris, delicate iris, flag, flag iris, German iris, liberty iris, orrice root, orris root

Synonyms

Iris 'Florentina' blue, Iris 'Trojana', Iris amoena, Iris mesopotamica, Iris trojana

Herbaceous Perennial

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A species of evergreen perennial with sword-shaped, grey-green leaves. Large, showy, fragrant flowers come in a wide range of colours and shades and appear from May to June

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Iridaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Iris may be rhizomatous or bulbous perennials, with narrow leaves and erect stems bearing flowers with 3 large spreading or pendent fall petals, alternating with 3 erect, often smaller, standard petals, in late winter, spring or early summer
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Turkey

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained or sharply drained neutral or slightly alkaline soil. Ideal at the base of a sunny wall

Propagation

Propagate by dividing irises from midsummer to early autumn, plant immediately in flowering positions

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Wall side borders
Banks and slopes
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails and Thrips

Diseases

May be susceptible to aphid-borne viruses, bacterial soft rot and grey moulds; see iris diseases