Iris versicolor ‘Party Line’ (Blue Flag)

Free-flowering and most attractive, Iris versicolor ‘Party Line’ (Blue Flag) is a rhizomatous perennial forming a clump of lance-shaped, blue-green leaves. Branched stems rise from the clump in late spring to early summer, each of them boasting 3-5 red-purple flowers adorned with darker veining and a pale yellow signal that changes to white with red-purple veining. Very handsome in and out of bloom, Blue Flag is a central landscape plant for the water garden, near ponds and streams. This marginal aquatic plant is also a lovely addition to moist borders.

• Grows up to 18 in. tall and wide (45 cm). Clumps will spread steadily over time to form colonies.
• Performs best in full sun or part shade, in acidic, moist to wet, humus-rich soils. This iris may be grown in up to 2-4 in. (5-10 cm) of shallow standing water.
• A welcomed addition to beds and borders, cottage gardens, bog gardens, rain gardens, water gardens and near streams or ponds, where it will provide excellent color contrast.
• Propagate by division from mid-summer to early autumn.
• Virtually disease free. Keep an eye out for sawflies. Deer resistant.
• All parts may cause discomfort if ingested. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
• Native to the eastern United States.