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    • Available to buy
    • Of good constitution
    • Essentially stable in form & colour
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Iris 'Flight of Butterflies' (Sib)

Siberian iris 'Flight of Butterflies'

AGM plants

AGM plants have been through a rigorous trial and assessment programme. They are:

  • Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions
  • Available to buy
  • Of good constitution
  • Essentially stable in form & colour
  • Reasonably resistant to pests & diseases
Sold by 34 nurseries

  • Other common names Siberian iris 'Flight of Butterflies'

  • Family Iridaceae

  • 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

  • Horticultural Group Sibirica irises are rhizomatous perennials, to 1.2m tall, with narrow leaves and erect stems bearing up to 5 beardless flowers 6-7cm wide in early summer. Form and colour vary considerably among cultivars

  • Details 'Flight of Butterflies' is a very free-flowering perennial with bluish-green grassy foliage. In early summer stems to 90cm high carry narrow flowers, bright violet-blue with drooping falls, heavily veined over white

Characteristics

  • Foliage Deciduous

  • Habit Clump-forming

  • Toxicity All parts may cause severe discomfort if ingested. Wear gloves and wash hands after handling

  • 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)

    H7

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect South-facing or West-facing or East-facing

  • Exposure Exposed or Sheltered

Soil

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Loam

    Loam

  • Sand

    Sand

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained

  • SoilChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 0.5-1 metres

  • Ultimate spread 0.1-0.5 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 2-5 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow in any good garden soil that is preferably moist but not waterlogged in sun or part shade. In drier soils, dig in well-rotted organic matter before planting then apply as a mulch each spring

Propagation Propagate by dividing irises from midsummer to early autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types Cut Flowers Flower borders and beds Coastal City & Courtyard Gardens Cottage & Informal Garden

How to care

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

Pests May be attacked by slugs, snails and thrips

Diseases May be affected by Iris diseases (may be affected by grey moulds)

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