Iris versicolor 'Purple Flame', cultivar of the native Blue Flag Iris, is prized for its purple flushed foliage and violet blue flowers. Emerging with rich burgundy tones that fade to green, it adds bold seasonal interest to moist gardens and rain garden borders.
Height & Spread: 24 - 30 in x 18 - 24 in
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Light Requirements: Full sun to part sun
Soil Preference: Moist to wet soils; thrives in clay, loam, or shallow water
Watering Needs: High; prefers consistently moist to saturated soils
Deer Resistance: Moderate
Native Status
Derived from the North American native Iris versicolor species. While 'Purple Flame' is a cultivated variety, it retains the ecological benefits of the species and is well suited to native plantings and restoration gardens.
Wildlife & Insects
Butterflies
- Attracts Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and Painted Ladies seeking nectar in late spring.
Bees
- Visited by native bumblebees and sweat bees that forage on the prominent open blooms.
Beneficial Insects
- Provides seasonal resources for wetland pollinators and beneficial predators in moist environments.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 18 - 24 in apart to create a full, naturalized appearance in moist to wet settings.
Landscape Placement
- Excellent for rain gardens, pond margins, bioswales, and naturalized water features where early foliage color and native value are desired.
Companion Plants
- Lobelia siphilitica (Great Blue Lobelia) - Offers vertical blue flowers and thrives in the same moist to wet habitats.
-
Saururus cernuus (Lizard's Tail) - Adds texture and white spiked blooms to wetland margins and shaded areas.
- Osmunda regalis (Royal Fern) - Provides lush, architectural foliage that complements the upright iris form.
- Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) - Supports Monarchs and offers fragrant pink flowers in wetland zones.