A mature Purple Bearded Iris (Iris germanica) growing in a residential garden bed

In the landscape

Border · Mass planting · Container · Naturalized · Patio · Small space · Walkway · Woodland

Data sources

Missouri Botanical Garden, NC State Extension

Purple Bearded Iris

Iris germanica · Perennial

Purple Bearded Iris is a perennial, hardy in USDA zones 3-10, that matures to about 2–3 ft × 1–2 ft. It does best in full sun with medium water needs in well-drained, occasionally-dry and very-dry soil. Expect black, blue and cream blooms in spring. It stands up well to deer and drought and grows happily in containers.

USDA zones: 3-10
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Mature size: 2–3 ft × 1–2 ft
Spacing: 12 in-3 ft
Maintenance: Medium
Soil: Well-drained, Occasionally-dry, Very-dry
Foliage: Green
Bloom color: Black, Blue, Cream, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Variegated, White
Bloom season: Spring
Tough against: Deer, Drought
Watch out for: Can irritate skin on contact
Toxic to: People, Dogs, Cats, Horses
Native to: Eastern Mediterranean

Will it survive your winters?

We score Purple Bearded Iris’s freeze-trouble range against the real coldest nights your area has recorded.

Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.

More plants for your zone: Zone 3 · Zone 4 · Zone 5 · Zone 6 · Zone 7 · Zone 8 · Zone 9 · Zone 10