Quick Facts
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Height at Maturity: 2-3 Feet
Usage: Flower Gardens
Shipped As: Bare-root
Planting Zones: 3-9
Product Details
Blue flag iris (Iris versicolor), also sold as harlequin blueflag or northern blue flag, is a native iris of marshes, pond edges and wet meadows. We ship it bare-root in packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500, for water gardens, rain gardens, pond margins and any low spot that stays wet.
Blue Flag Iris Size, Zones and Sun
Expect a clump 2 to 3 feet high that spreads to about 2.5 feet. The leaves are roughly an inch wide and can stretch to 24 inches. Zones 3-9 are fine for it, and it takes a full day of sun as happily as 2 to 6 hours of direct light with shade the rest of the time.
Flowers and Bloom Time
Blooms open from late spring into early summer, in blue, purple or lavender, with an occasional white form. Each flower measures 3 to 6 inches across, and a stalk of up to 30 inches carries three to five of them. Cut stems work in a vase as well as at the pond.
Blue Flag Iris for Wet Soil
Rich, moist soil is what blue flag iris wants. It stands in up to 4 inches of water and handles occasional flooding, which makes it a match for pond margins, marshy corners, wet meadows and rain gardens. Deer tolerate it. Our guide to native plants for a rain garden design shows what to plant beside it.
Good to Know About Blue Flag Iris
Every part of the plant is toxic to cats, dogs and horses, the rhizomes most of all, and the sap can irritate skin, so wear gloves when handling it. Divide the rhizomes after the flowers fade to make more plants. Aphids, iris borer and thrips are the pests to watch. For perennials that share a summer border with it, see our easy-care border plant ideas.
Blue Flag Iris Packs and Shipping
Blue flag iris ships bare-root now, in packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500. Volume pricing available. Browse more perennials for sale.