Dappled shade, full shade, full sun, partial shade
Aspect:
East facing, north facing, south facing, west facing
Position in border:
Middle
Shade type:
Dry
Soil
Clay / Heavy / Moist / Well Drained / Light / Sandy
Iris foetidissima is the perfect iris for a shady spot, particularly beneath trees, where other plants struggle. It has architectural evergreen foliage and dull purple flowers, but it comes into its own in autumn when its large seedpods split open to reveal rows of orange-red seeds that remain well into winter. It works well with with other shade lovers such as Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae, and under deciduous trees alongside dwarf spring-flowering bulbs. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Grow Iris foetidissima in moist but well-drained soil in sun or shade. Remove faded foliage in autumn.
Plant calendar
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Plant
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Flowers
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Fruits
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Divide
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Iris and wildlife
Iris is known for attracting bees. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers.
