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BulbsHerbaceous Perennial

Iris setosa 'Baby Blue'

iris 'Baby Blue'

A dwarf, clump-forming, rhizomatous perennial with linear mid-green leaves. In late spring and early summer flowers are produced on upright stems, with small standards and purple-veined, deep blue falls, white at the base. These resemble a halo.

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Iridaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Can cause severe discomfort if eaten
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: Not established

How to grow

Cultivation

Best planted in sunny position in well-drained, neutral to slightly acid soil. Ensure the rhizome sits at the surface of the soil as they can rot if too deeply planted.

Propagation

Propagate by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Remove any dying foliage in autumn, old flower stems can be cut down after flowering. Tall cultivars can have their leaf fans trimmed to one third of the total height to reduce wind rock while the plants are establishing

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails and thrips

Diseases

May be susceptible to aphid-borne viruses, bacterial soft rot and grey moulds; see Iris diseases

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