Digging deeperPlant Library

Dwarf Iris flowers

(Photo courtesy of E. Hutchison)

Description:

Cheerful bright yellow blooms with curious brown spots; flowers emerge from lush, sword-like foliage; sporadic blooming in subsequent years as bulblets need to mature; hardy and easy to grow; cut back in the fall to reduce pests

Ornamental Features

Dwarf Iris features showy lightly-scented yellow flag-like flowers with brown spots at the ends of the stems in late spring. Its sword-like leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Dwarf Iris is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Dwarf Iris is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Dwarf Iris will grow to be only 6 inches tall at maturity extending to 12 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 10 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 8 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.