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Herbaceous Perennial

Iris 'Londonderry' (IB)

iris 'Londonderry'

'Londonderry' is a herbaceous perennial to 60 cm high with grey-green leaves and ruffled flowers in early summer of pinkish lilac; the falls with a paler centre, and the blue-white beard tipped with lemon and tangerine in the throat

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

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)

Botanical details

Family: Iridaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
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: Unresolved
Horticultural Group: Intermediate Bearded irises are deciduous rhizomatous perennials, growing between 40 and 70cm tall, with sword-shaped light glaucous green leaves and erect stems bearing flowers 10-13cm across, bearded on the falls, in late spring and early summer

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained neutral to alkaline soil in full sun; it will tolerate acid soil that is reliably well-drained

Propagation

Propagate by division of rhizomes from midsummer to early autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Gravel garden
Cottage and informal garden
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Remove any dying foliage in autumn; cut down old flower stems after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails, thrips and aphids

Diseases

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

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