Iris sibirica 'Flight of Butterflies'
Garden Plant Information

Iris structure

 

Iris sibirica 'Flight of Butterfies'

 

Name

Iris sibirica 'Flight of Butterflies' (also called Siberian iris 'Flight of Butterflies')

Genus  

Iris

Species

sibirica

Cultivar/variety

'Flight of Butterflies'

General description

Hardy, rhizomatous, clump-forming perennial, grown for showy flowers that open in late spring to early summer. Tolerant of damp sites.

 

Attractive to bees and bumblebees, the veining (also called the 'signal') on the sepal (also called the 'fall') acts as a route marker and landing pad to help guide the bees to the pollen.

Season of interest

Flower in late spring to early summer.

Key horticultural features

  1. Habit - upright, clump-forming. H: 90cm

  2. Stem - narrow, green, carrying up to six flowers each.

  3. Leaves - grass-like, grey-green, usually shorter than the flowering stems.

  4. Flowers - up to 8cm across - upright, purple standards held above drooping falls, which are white and heavily veined in purple and tinged with yellow at the base.

 

Cultural details

Aspect

Full sun to partial shade.

Soil

Moist or moisture retentive.

Hardiness

Hardy.

Maintenance

Divide clumps every few years. When congested clumps produce fewer flowers, develop open centres and are also more prone to attack by aphids.

 

Susceptible to snails, slugs and thrips.

Propagation

Divide when dormant from mid-summer to early autumn.