Iris 'Superstition'
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Iris 'Superstition': Near-Black Purple With Real Drama
Deep purple-black flowers with blue-black beards, the kind of colour that makes people cross the street. 'Superstition' is the black cat of the iris world, and IT'S NOTHING BUT GOOD LUCK.
Plant Characteristics:
- Botanical Name: Iris (Tall Bearded Group), often sold as Iris germanica
- Common Name: Bearded Iris
- Height: 90 cm (35 in)
- Spread: 45â60 cm (18â24 in)
- Flowers: Deep purple-black self with blue-black beards
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer (June to July)
- Foliage: Upright, sword-shaped green leaves
Where to Plant: Dark flowers vanish against dark backgrounds, so give it contrast. Place it in front of a light wall or fence, or among pale foliage and flowers. It's also a fine choice for a cutting bed.
Companion Plants: Use near-black 'Superstition' in a sunny, dry bed with orange ice plant, copper daisies and pink gaura. Delosperma 'Jewel of Desert Topaz' carpets the front at 10 to 15 cm with yellow-orange flowers from May to September. Gaillardia SpinTopÂź Copper Sun adds copper-orange daisies at 25 to 30 cm from June to September. Gaura 'Passionate Blush' brings airy pink flowers at 30 to 45 cm from June to September. Pennisetum 'Piglet' fills in at 40 to 50 cm with soft, fluffy plumes.
Plant Care: Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Keep the top of the rhizome at or just below the soil surface, and don't pile mulch on it. Avoid low spots where water sits in spring or winter. Water through the first summer. After that, it only needs help during long droughts. Remove spent stalks at the base after flowering. Clear away old leaves in fall to reduce iris borer and leaf spot. Divide every three to five years in mid to late summer.
History: 'Superstition' was bred by Schreiner's Gardens of Oregon, a family nursery famous for dark irises, and registered in 1977. The American Iris Society gave it an Honorable Mention in 1978 and an Award of Merit in 1981.
Final Thoughts: Full sun, deer resistant and drought tolerant once established. Plant it next to something pale and knock on wood. DON'T WALK UNDER ANY LADDERS.