Iris ‘Black Swan’ (Bearded Iris)

Noted for the dark velvety texture and great substance of its beautifully formed and lightly ruffled flowers, award-winning Iris ‘Black Swan’ adds drama to the garden with its deep purple standards and dark purple, almost black falls. Its thick, wide beard, created by a blending of purple and yellow hairs, gives depth and richness to the lustrous dark flowers. This Tall Bearded Iris rises up to 36 inches high (90 cm) atop a lovely sword-shaped, gray-green foliage which will continue to add interest to the landscape after flowering is over. One of the largest and most spectacular black irises.

• Easy to grow, it is deer and rabbit resistant, and quite drought tolerant once established.
• Winner of the Honorable Mention Award (1960) and Award of Merit (1962)
• A profuse bloomer, it will bring its glorious and glamorous blooms in late spring or early summer over a long blooming period. Please note that bloom times depend very much on the weather.
• Performs best in full sun in humus rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Tolerates light shade, but best flowering and disease resistance occur in full sun. Good soil drainage is essential to prevent rot issues.
• Grows from creeping rhizomes which store food produced by the sword-shaped leaves and forms large clumps over time
• A welcomed addition to herbaceous borders, sunny courtyards, or urban gardens where the sword-like foliage and vibrant color will combine harmoniously with the stones and angular hardscaping. Roses also provide a lovely backdrop for this tall variety.
• The best time to plant bearded irises is July through September. Container-grown iris can be planted in the spring.
• All parts may cause discomfort if ingested. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.

Bearded irises are classified by height and flower size into 6 groups. Since these groups bloom at slightly different times, combining specimens from different groups will extend your color display for a couple of weeks.