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Bearded Iris

Iris cypriana

Also called German Iris, Flags

Iris cypriana is a rhizomatous perennial bearded iris from Cyprus, with sword-shaped evergreen leaves and lavender to dark purple flowers on slender stems. It is grown as an ornamental in temperate regions and is sometimes listed as a synonym of Iris x germanica; it needs a dry rhizome and is prone to rot in wet conditions.

Family
Iridaceae (Iris family)
Grows as
Perennial
Light
Full sun
Water
Water sparingly and keep the rhizome dry, since wet soil causes rot.
Soil
Well-drained, gritty or sandy soil; rhizomes should sit near the surface.
Temperature
Hardy to about -15 to -20 °C (zone H2); protect leaves from hard frost.
How easy
Moderate
Safety
Toxic: Rhizome and leaves are poisonous; ingestion causes stomach pain and vomiting, and handling may cause skin irritation or allergy.

About

Iris cypriana is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Cyprus. It has narrow, glaucous and evergreen leaves, tall slender stem, with 2–3 branches, and 1–3 large flowers in lavender, lilac, red-lilac, to dark purple shades. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. It is listed in some sources as a synonym of Iris × germanica.

How to grow it

It is hardy to Europe zone H2. Meaning that it is hardy to −15 to-20oC (5 to −4oF).

It is very difficult to grow in the UK and eastern US, unless grown in dry sand under glass, during summer (after blooming, between July, August and September). The rhizome is liable to rot in wet climates.

Safety

Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), and if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Handling the plant may cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction.

Other Iris plants

Iris acutiloba subsp. lineolata · Iris acutiloba · Iris adriatica · Iris afghanica · Iris alberti · Iris albomarginata · Iris alexeenkoi · Single Bract Iris · Iris antilibanotica · Stool iris · Iris arenaria · Iris assadiana

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Iris cypriana by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

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