Iris pseudacorus
The Highlights
- This UK native species is also known as the Yellow Flag Iris, and has the classic 'fleur-de-lis' flower shape. Flowers are a golden butterscotch yellow with delicate brown or violet veining
- Attracts pollinating insects including bees
- Long flowering from May to July
- Ideal for growing in the shallow edges of your pond or on shallow planting shelves within it
- Irises are the perfect plants to encourage insects like damselflies and dragonflies to your pond, providing shelter and a sunny place to perch.
- Marginal plants soften and add interest to the borders of your pond and are also suitable for planting in bog gardens or moist soil borders.
- Harmful if eaten
The Highlights
- This UK native species is also known as the Yellow Flag Iris, and has the classic 'fleur-de-lis' flower shape. Flowers are a golden butterscotch yellow with delicate brown or violet veining
- Attracts pollinating insects including bees
- Long flowering from May to July
- Ideal for growing in the shallow edges of your pond or on shallow planting shelves within it
- Irises are the perfect plants to encourage insects like damselflies and dragonflies to your pond, providing shelter and a sunny place to perch.
- Marginal plants soften and add interest to the borders of your pond and are also suitable for planting in bog gardens or moist soil borders.
- Harmful if eaten
Care Guide
Excellent pest and disease resistance
Virtually disease free. Keep an eye out for the Iris Sawfly - a pest whose larvae eat the foliage of waterside irises. They look like greyish-brown caterpillars up to 25mm long and initially eat v-shaped notches from the leaf margins before moving on to eat from the leaf tips downward. This isn't usually too serious and plants can recover, but it's a good idea to encourage predators like birds and ground beetles as well as regularly inspecting plants during the growing season and removing any larvae by hand.MORE
Water if planted in borders
Irises need moist or wet soil so although those planted in ponds will not need extra watering, you will need to keep an eye on them if planted in beds and borders, making sure to water in dry or hot weather as required.
Full sun to partial shade
Position where the plants will receive at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily in spring/summer.
Clay or loam soil
Loam or clay soil is perfect. Any soil type will suit Irises as long as it is kept consistently moist.
Feeding may be needed
No feeding is needed if you plant your irises straight into a mature pond due to the nutrient content of pond water, but in a non-pond setting it's a good idea to feed in the spring, using a slow release general fertiliser. ?v=1613300718
For more care tips and ideas visit our Knowledge page
Planting Calendar
- Best time to plant
- Harvest
- Flower