Iris versicolor
$21.99
Northern blue flag is a clump-forming wetland perennial with upright blue-green sword leaves and branched stems of veined blue-purple flowers with white basal patches in late spring and early summer.
- Description
- Additional information
Description
Northern blue flag forms upright to gently arching clumps of narrow blue-green, sword-shaped leaves. Branched stems rise to about 20 to 39 inches and carry several blue to purple flowers, each about 2 to 3 inches wide, with a conspicuously veined white patch on the falls. The display begins in late spring and continues into early summer.
Grow it in full sun in deep, humus-rich, acidic to neutral soil that stays moist or wet. It thrives at pond edges, in bog gardens, and in rain gardens, and can stand in up to about 4 inches of fresh water. Divide crowded rhizome clumps after flowering, and remove faded foliage just above the crown after the first frost. The plant is harmful if eaten, and gloves are sensible when dividing it.
Additional information
| Height | 50 cm – 100 cm |
|---|---|
| Spread | 10 cm – 50 cm |
| Flowering months | May, June |
| Family | Iridaceae |
| Propagation | Divide established rhizome clumps from midsummer to early autumn after flowering, replanting healthy sections promptly into consistently moist soil. |
| Pests | Slugs, snails, thrips, aphids, and iris borers may occur. |
| Diseases | Leaf or blossom blight, bacterial soft rot, crown or rhizome rot, leaf spot, gray mold, and mosaic virus may occur. |
| Pruning | No routine pruning is needed; after the first frost, cut faded leaves just above the crown and clear them away. |
| Hazardous information | Harmful if eaten; sap, seeds, and rhizomes can irritate skin, so wear gloves when dividing. |
| Hazardous | yes |
| Variegated | no |
| Watering instructions | Keep soil moist to wet; crowns can stand in up to 10 cm of water. |
| Sunlight instructions | Grow in full sun for best bloom; light partial shade is tolerated. |
| Color flower spring | Purple, White, Blue |
| Color flower summer | Purple, White, Blue |
| Aspect | South, West |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Habit | Clump-former |
| Moisture | Wet or Damp Soil |
| Ph | Acid, Neutral |
| Position | Full sun, Partial shade |
| Shape | Upright, Arching |
| Suggest planting location | Wildflower meadows, Bog Garden, Rain Garden, Pond Margin, Water Garden |
| Type | Perennial |
| Use for | Cutting Garden, Naturalizing, Pollinator-Friendly |
| Years to max height | 2 |
| Drought resistance | no |
| Soil | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Local names | Northern blue flag, Amerikaanse blauwe lis, Verschiedenfarbige Schwertlilie |
| Blomidon Item No | MO23020036, ZIRIVE0001G |