Iris fulva

RHS Plant Profile

tawny iris

John Fielding

Herbaceous Perennial

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A rhizomatous perennial with bright green, strap shaped leaves to 70cm long. Produces tall flowering stems in late spring, each bearing 4-6 copper-coloured flowers to 7cm across

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Clay

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

Loam Clay

Moisture: Poorly–drained
pH: Neutral or Acid

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–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): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Iridaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
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

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in damp, humus-rich soil, or in up to 15cm of standing water. Ideal at the margins of ponds or streams, in bog gardens, or in spring-flooding areas that dry out over summer. Thrives in high summer temperatures

Propagation

Propagate by division from midsummer to early autumn, see dividing iris for more detailed advice

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens

Pruning

Remove spent flowering stems and dead leaves as required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails, sawfly larvae and thrips

Diseases

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