Iris × robusta 'Dark Aura'
iris 'Dark Aura'
'Dark Aura' is a rhizomatous perennial to 95cm in height, with narrow leaves, dark red in spring, becoming green with a purple tinge at the base, and straight, dark purple stems to 70cm bearing 6-8 small flowers. Standards are cupped, erect, violet. Falls are drooping, violet, with a yellow, white-edged signal
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Black Purple | Red Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Black Purple | Blue Purple | Green | |
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Iridaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Potentially harmful
- Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
- Genus
Iris may be rhizomatous or bulbous perennials, with narrow leaves and erect stems bearing flowers with 3 large spreading or pendent fall petals, alternating with 3 erect, often smaller, standard petals, in late winter, spring or early summer
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moist to wet, deep, humus-rich neutral to acid soil in sun or part shade, it thrives in the margins of ponds and ideal for a bog garden
Propagation
Propagate by division of rhizomes from midsummer to early autumn
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Coastal
- Flower borders and beds
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Remove any dying foliage in autumn, old flower stems can be cut down after flowering
Pests
Diseases
May be susceptible to aphid-borne viruses, bacterial soft rot and grey moulds; see Iris diseases
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