Iris versicolor 'Purple Flame'
Purple Flame Blue Flag Iris
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Product Info
Purple Flame Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor)
Iris Family
Purple Flame is a striking cultivar of the native Blue Flag Iris. Its new spring leaves emerge in a dramatic, deep purple hue, creating a bold visual statement before maturing to a rich green as the season progresses. In late spring to early summer, the plant produces purple-blue flowers with intricate, contrasting veins.
This iris is well-suited for wetland areas, rain gardens, and pond edges, where it thrives in consistently moist to wet soils. While it is highly tolerant of wet conditions, it can also withstand occasional drought once established. Planting ‘Purple Flame’ in full sun enhances both its foliage color and flower production, though it can adapt to partial shade.Discovered and introduced by the Mt. Cuba Center, ‘Purple Flame’ is a testament to the beauty of native plants.
Blooms: Purple, 3-4 weeks, May-June
Leaves: Long, blade-like leaves are a striking, deep purple in early
Height: 2-3’
Space: 2-3’
Soil: Moist-Wet
Exposure: Full sun-Part Sun-Part Shade
Fauna: Bees, Hummingbirds, Flies, other small insects
Seeds: 2” angled, oblong capsules hold several stacked seeds
Deer Resistance: High
Zone: 3-9
Native Status: Northern US native (Maine south to Virginia, west to Minnesota)
Provenance: Unknown, asexually produced