Iris 'Miss Apple'

Iris 'Miss Apple': Siberian Iris Blushing Closer to Red

Deep red falls blended with yellow, like a crisp apple straight off the tree. 'Miss Apple' is THE TEACHER'S PET of the iris bed, and she knows exactly how good she looks on a desk.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Iris sibirica 'Miss Apple'
• Common Name: Siberian Iris
• Height: 75 cm (30 in)
• Spread: 30–45 cm (12–18 in)
• Flowers: Deep red falls blended with yellow and marked by a warm yellow signal and dark veins. Standards are medium red blended with yellow. Lightly fragrant.
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer (May to June)
• Foliage: Narrow, upright, grass-like green leaves
• Features: Good for cutting

Where to Plant: Use it in the middle of a border, near water, or in a moist bed that gets at least half a day of sun. It copes with clay soil and cold winters, and the stems make good cut flowers.

Companion Plants: Plant 'Miss Apple' in a moist bed in sun or part shade with white hellebores, dark heuchera and velvety red hibiscus. Helleborus HGC® Frosty opens creamy white flowers at 20 to 30 cm from March to May. Heuchera FYRE WING™ 'Hematite' adds dark foliage at 15 cm. Hibiscus 'Blackberry Merlot' brings velvety deep red blooms at 120 to 135 cm from July to September. Molinia 'Moorhexe' grows to 60 to 90 cm in flower with fine dark green blades.

Plant Care: Plant it in full sun to part sun, in moist, fertile, slightly acidic soil. Set the crown about 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) deep. Water regularly through the first season and in dry summers. More sun brings more flowers. Cut the flower stems down after bloom. Cut the foliage back in late fall or early spring. Divide when the clump gets crowded or bare in the centre, in late summer or early spring. Keep divisions moist until they're replanted.

History: 'Miss Apple' was bred by Marty Schafer and Jan Sacks, registered in 2009, and is a sibling of their Siberian iris 'Hot Sketch'. It earned an Honorable Mention in 2012 and an Award of Merit in 2014, then won the Morgan-Wood Medal, the top award for Siberian irises, in 2018.

Final Thoughts: Deer resistant and great for cutting. Bring a bouquet to the office and watch the gold stars roll in. A PLUS, NO CURVE.