yellow iris
Iris pseudacorus
RHS Plants for Pollinators
USDA zones5 to 9
SunHandles full sun to partial sun
WaterHandles moist to wet soil
Size3 to 5 feet tall2 to 2.5 feet wide
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Habit
- Clumping
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer
- Bloom color
- Yellow with brown-violet veining on the falls
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Loam, clay
- Soil pH
- Acid
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus) is a perennial for borders, pollinator gardens, and low maintenance planting. It is hardy to USDA zone 5, or down to -20°F (-29°C). This plant likes full or part sun and moist to wet, loamy or clay soil. Yellow flowers with brown-violet veining on the falls open in spring and again in summer, and bees visit the blooms. Deer tend to browse other plants first. The fast clumps reach 3 to 5 feet tall, so give them room.
Pairs well with Siebold's hosta, Fireglow spurge, and Northwind switchgrass.
Native range
Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, and 11 more places. See all 15
Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, Baleares, Corse, East Aegean Is., Føroyar, Kriti, Krym, Madeira, NW. Balkan Pen., Sardegna, Sicilia, and Türkiye.