Iris 'Sultan's Palace'

Iris 'Sultan's Palace': Maroon Velvet Fit for a Palace

Velvety maroon-red petals and ginger-gold beards, the colour of a leather armchair in a library nobody's allowed to touch. This iris has EXPENSIVE TASTE and it's not apologizing.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Iris (Tall Bearded Group), often sold as Iris germanica
• Common Name: Bearded Iris
• Height: 75–85 cm (30–33 in)
• Spread: 45–60 cm (18–24 in)
• Flowers: Velvety maroon-red to reddish-brown with slightly ruffled petals and ginger-gold beards
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer (June to July)
• Foliage: Upright, sword-shaped green leaves

Where to Plant: Use it in the middle of a sunny border, or plant a group for a bold block of colour, ideally where lighter neighbours make the dark tone look richest. It's also lovely as a cut flower, so cut stems when the first bud starts to open.

Companion Plants: Give 'Sultan's Palace' a sunny, well-drained bed with chartreuse spurge, hot pink pinks and apricot hyssop. Euphorbia 'Bonfire' adds red-purple leaves and chrome-yellow bracts at 30 to 45 cm in May and June. Dianthus Glamour Time™ brings hot pink pinks at 15 to 20 cm from June to September. Agastache 'Pinky Pie' adds lavender-pink spikes at 46 to 51 cm from July to September. Panicum Prairie Winds® 'Totem Pole' rises behind at 180 cm on stiff, powdery blue stems.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun with sharp drainage. Set the rhizome so the top is at or just below the soil surface and spread the roots out below. Heavy, wet clay is the main enemy, so raise the bed or work in grit if drainage is poor. Water through the first season. After that, water only during long droughts. Remove spent flower stalks at the base after blooming. Clean up dead leaves in fall to reduce iris borer. Divide every three to five years in mid to late summer, keeping healthy rhizomes with a fan of leaves.

History: Tall bearded irises are garden hybrids descended mostly from Iris pallida, Iris variegata and related species of southern and eastern Europe and western Asia. Clear reds have long been one of the harder goals for iris breeders, which is why deep maroon and wine shades like this one are so prized in the border.

Final Thoughts: Deer resistant, drought tolerant once established and low maintenance. Plant it where you want the garden to look rich. NO CREDIT CHECK NEEDED.