Blue Flag Iris
Blue Flag Iris
Blue Flag Iris

Multi Buy

Size Guide
5.5
5.5" Perennial
3 or more $14.00 ea
Regularly: $14.99 ea

Blue Flag Iris

Scott's Nursery Ltd.

$14.99
Title

Bring the enchanting beauty of native wetlands directly into your landscape with this elegant water-loving treasure. This striking plant features a bold, structural clump of sword-shaped, bright green leaves that stand crisp and erect like an architectural fan. Emerging gracefully above this structural foliage are exquisitely detailed, intricate blossoms showing off a regal palette of deep violet-blue and purple. Each delicate petal features a striking, luminous throat accented with a bright yellow flash and intricate white veining. It creates an air of sophisticated, untamed elegance that makes water features, rain gardens, and low spots in the yard look absolutely magical.
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Plant Details

Mature Size:

24-36" H x 24-36" W

Zone:

3-9

Watering:

High

Type:

Herbaceous Perennial

Growth Rate:

Moderate

Light:

Full Sun/Partial Shade

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Blue Flag Iris, Harlequin Blue Flag, Larger Blue Flag, Northern Blue Flag

Scientific Name:

Iris versicolor

Type:

Thriller / Aquatic / Wetland Ornamental Perennial

Growth Details:

Mature Size: Height of 60–90 cm (24–36 inches) x Width of 60–90 cm (24–36 inches).

Growth Habit: Upright, clumping, and slowly spreading via thick rhizomes.

Form: Erect, fan-shaped architectural clump.

Growth Rate: Medium; steadily expands into a lush, handsome colony over a few seasons.

Flowering: Generous display with multiple flowers opening sequentially on branched stems.

Flowering Time: Late spring to early summer.

Flower Colour: Deep violet-blue and purple with yellow and white markings.

Environmental Needs:

Exposure: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil Preferences: Prefers rich, organic, humus-heavy, acidic soils that retain high amounts of moisture.

Soil Tolerance: Excellent tolerance for heavy clay, muck, and saturated soils. Poor tolerance for dry, sandy, or sharply drained gravelly soils.

Watering: High. Requires regular deep watering if not planted directly in a bog or water feature.

Container Role: Acts as an outstanding Thriller in aquatic container gardens or patio water bowls.

Special Features:

Disease Resistances: Exceptionally robust and virtually untroubled by common terrestrial fungal diseases when grown in wet conditions.

Native Species: Proudly native to eastern North America, serving as the official provincial flower of Quebec.

Fast Growing: Quickly establishes strong root systems to anchor itself in moving water.

Attracts: A crucial early-summer nectar source for hummingbirds, bumblebees, and butterflies.

Uses: Shoreline stabilization, rain gardens, naturalized water margins, and aquatic planters.

Resistance: Highly resistant to deer, rabbits, and heavy clay soil conditions.
Care Guide

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

Bloom Information: Features uniquely shaped, showy flag-type blossoms that make a dramatic, elegant statement.

Fall Colour: Foliage shifts to a golden-straw yellow in late autumn before dying back to the ground for the winter.

Garden Value:

Ornamental Interest: Delivers exceptional structural texture with its blade-like leaves and highly detailed, multi-toned watercolor blooms.

Landscaping Uses: Perfect for pond edges, water gardens, boggy areas, rain gardens, bioswales, and low-lying drainage ditches.

Garden/Landscape Benefits: Highly effective at stabilizing soil along eroding shoreline edges, filtering runoff water, and thriving where standard perennials drown.

Wildlife & Human Value:

Wildlife Value: Highly valuable for wetland ecology, providing critical shelter for small aquatic life and an open nectar station for native pollinators.

Human Value: Excellent for eco-friendly stormwater management designs (rain gardens) and adding instant, low-maintenance structure to home water features.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

Best Time To Plant: Spring or early autumn when conditions are naturally damp and temperatures are mild.

Spacing: Space 45–60 cm (18–24 inches) apart from the center to allow the rhizomes room to safely spread.

Location Tips: Plant directly into mud at the edge of a pond, or submerge the root container up to 15 cm (6 inches) deep in water. Ensure it is not planted in dry zones.

Companion Plants: Pairs beautifully with other wetland lovers like Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold), Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower), and various native sedges or ferns.

Care:

Light Requirements: Thrives best in full sun for maximum bloom production, but adapts well to partial afternoon shade.

Moisture Requirements: Requires high moisture. Soil must be kept consistently damp; it thrives beautifully in shallow standing water or boggy mud.

Maintenance: Minimal maintenance needed. Prune away dead or yellowing foliage in late autumn or early spring to keep the clump looking tidy.

Fertilization: Apply an organic, moisture-loving plant fertilizer or a layer of rich compost around the base in early spring to fuel vigorous seasonal growth.

Tolerances:

Standing water and flooding tolerant, Soggy, poorly drained soil tolerant, Heavy clay tolerant, Cold and frost tolerant, Deer and rabbit resistant

Tips For Success:

Thinning/Pinching: Divide large crowded clumps every 3–4 years in mid-to-late summer after flowering to maintain high bloom vigour.

Support/Staking: No support or staking is ever required; the strong, fibrous stems naturally withstand wind and water movement.

Mulching: Organic bark mulch is generally not needed if planted in water; for standard garden beds, use leaf mould or compost to lock in moisture.

Winter Protection: Leave dead foliage intact over winter if planted in standing water to prevent water from entering and rotting the crown, then clear it away in spring.
Fruit Profile