Iris setosa (Alaska or Wild Flag Iris)
Iris setosa is a rare iris for shady conditions and offers various bloom colors in blue-violet shades, beginning in late spring to early summer and providing many weeks of nectar to pollinators. The striking blue-violet flowers feature three upright petals and three drooping sepals, as well as a central yellow or white crest.
In addition to its striking flowers, it has narrow, sword-shaped leaves that grow in a clump from the base of the plant, reaching 12-24 inches and slowly spreading through rhizomes. Native to wetlands and other moist areas of North America, it prefers partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, but is known to tolerate full sun and drier soils.
Its native range is circum-Arctic, including as far south as British Columbia, making it very hardy and easy to grow. It requires little maintenance and is ideal in wet areas or for those looking to create a water feature in their garden. It is also used in Zone 1 of rain gardens, though it must be planted in a shady or semi-shady site, and its drought tolerance in summer may vary - it may require a long drink during hot spells in summer.
Its unique flowers and attractive foliage make it a standout addition to any garden. It can also be used in mixed borders or as a stand-alone specimen plant, and it was the recipient of the prestigious "Award of Garden Merit" of the Royal Horticultural Society.
Iris setosa is a rare iris for shady conditions and offers various bloom colors in blue-violet shades, beginning in late spring to early summer and providing many weeks of nectar to pollinators. The striking blue-violet flowers feature three upright petals and three drooping sepals, as well as a central yellow or white crest.
In addition to its striking flowers, it has narrow, sword-shaped leaves that grow in a clump from the base of the plant, reaching 12-24 inches and slowly spreading through rhizomes. Native to wetlands and other moist areas of North America, it prefers partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, but is known to tolerate full sun and drier soils.
Its native range is circum-Arctic, including as far south as British Columbia, making it very hardy and easy to grow. It requires little maintenance and is ideal in wet areas or for those looking to create a water feature in their garden. It is also used in Zone 1 of rain gardens, though it must be planted in a shady or semi-shady site, and its drought tolerance in summer may vary - it may require a long drink during hot spells in summer.
Its unique flowers and attractive foliage make it a standout addition to any garden. It can also be used in mixed borders or as a stand-alone specimen plant, and it was the recipient of the prestigious "Award of Garden Merit" of the Royal Horticultural Society.
Iris setosa is a rare iris for shady conditions and offers various bloom colors in blue-violet shades, beginning in late spring to early summer and providing many weeks of nectar to pollinators. The striking blue-violet flowers feature three upright petals and three drooping sepals, as well as a central yellow or white crest.
In addition to its striking flowers, it has narrow, sword-shaped leaves that grow in a clump from the base of the plant, reaching 12-24 inches and slowly spreading through rhizomes. Native to wetlands and other moist areas of North America, it prefers partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, but is known to tolerate full sun and drier soils.
Its native range is circum-Arctic, including as far south as British Columbia, making it very hardy and easy to grow. It requires little maintenance and is ideal in wet areas or for those looking to create a water feature in their garden. It is also used in Zone 1 of rain gardens, though it must be planted in a shady or semi-shady site, and its drought tolerance in summer may vary - it may require a long drink during hot spells in summer.
Its unique flowers and attractive foliage make it a standout addition to any garden. It can also be used in mixed borders or as a stand-alone specimen plant, and it was the recipient of the prestigious "Award of Garden Merit" of the Royal Horticultural Society.