Iris 'Kitt Peak' (Spuria) | iris 'Kitt Peak'

RHS 1999

Herbaceous Perennial

A tall plant with long blue-green leaves and deep violet-blue flowers, the falls with a bold yellow patch and veining

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Clay, Loam, Sand

1-1.5 metres

0.1-0.5 metres

Clay Loam Sand

Full sun Partial shade

Family: Iridaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
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: Accepted
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea: Spuria section irises are rhizomatous perennials with several beardless flowers up to 15cm across, in late spring or early summer

Grow in well-drained, fertile, neutral to slightly acid loam in full sun

Propagate by division of rhizomes from midsummer to early autumn

Remove any dying foliage in autumn, old flower stems can be cut down after flowering

May be susceptible to slugs, snails and thrips

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