Iris imbricata is a rhizomatous perennial iris from the Caucasus and northern Iran, with yellow flowers borne on slender stems above sword-like leaves. It is best grown in full sun in well-drained soil that stays on the dry side in winter.
Family
Iridaceae (Iris family)
Grows as
Perennial
Light
Full sun
Water
Water regularly in the growing season and keep soil from becoming waterlogged, especially in winter.
Soil
Well-drained soil, including rich sandy loam.
Temperature
Hardy to about -15 to -20 °C (European zone H2); prefers dryish winters.
How easy
Easy
Safety
Toxic: Rhizome and leaves are poisonous; ingestion can cause stomach pain and vomiting, and handling may cause skin irritation or allergy.
Native range
S. & E. Caucasus to N. Iran
Climate
temperate
About
Iris imbricata is a species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from the Caucasus mountains, within Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. It has broad, sword-like, yellow green or light green leaves, slender stem with branches, inflated and overlapping green spathes, and 2–5 yellow, pale yellow or greenish yellow flowers.
How to grow it
It is thought to be easily cultivated.
It is hardy, to European Zone H2, meaning hardy to −15 to −20 °C (5 to −4 °F). It prefers areas with dryish winters.
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. Also, handling the plant may cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Iris imbricata 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.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.