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Alpine RockeryHerbaceous Perennial

Iris suaveolens

sweet-scented iris

A compact, rhizomatous, bearded iris to 15cm tall with fans of narrow, curved, slightly glaucous leaves to 22cm long. One or two flowers are borne in late spring on short stems; flowers are up to 5.5cm in diameter, usually yellow or purple but sometimes bicoloured with yellow or bluish-purple beards

Other common names

delightful iris

Synonyms

Iris mellita

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing or East–facing

Exposure

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)

Botanical details

Family: Iridaceae
Native to the UK: 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: Correct
Plant range: SE Europe to Turkey

How to grow

Cultivation

Plant in full sun in well-drained soil, and with the top surfaces of the rhizomes exposed so that they get baked in summer sun, which encourages flowering

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division of rhizomes after flowering, from midsummer to late summer; for more advice, see dividing irises

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Gravel garden
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut down old flower stems after flowering, and remove any dying foliage in autumn

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

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.