Iris 'Play with Fire'
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Iris 'Play with Fire': Crimson Ruffles With Matching Red Beards
Heavily ruffled crimson red, beards and all. 'Play with Fire' is that ex your friends warned you about, except this one is DROUGHT TOLERANT AND ACTUALLY WORTH IT.
Plant Characteristics:
- Botanical Name: Iris germanica 'Play with Fire' (tall bearded iris)
- Common Name: Bearded Iris
- Height: 90 cm (35–36 in)
- Spread: 30–60 cm (12–24 in)
- Flowers: Heavily ruffled crimson red with matching beards
- Bloom Time: Early summer (June)
- Foliage: Upright, sword-shaped blue-green leaves
Where to Plant: Give it a spot in the middle or back of a sunny border where the deep red can glow, as a focal point in a hot-colour bed or a dark accent among pastels. In heavy clay, plant it on a slope or in a raised bed so the rhizomes stay dry.
Companion Plants: Gaillardia SpinTop® Copper Sun edges the front at 25 to 30 cm with orange flowers from June into September. Salvia 'Blue Hill' adds blue flowers at 45 to 60 cm from June into September, a cool contrast to the red. Solidago 'Little Lemon' brings yellow flowers at 30 to 45 cm from July into September. All three grow in full sun.
Plant Care: Plant the rhizome with its top at the soil surface and the roots spread below. Don't bury it or pile mulch on top. Water through the first season, then only in long droughts. Cut spent flower stalks down to the base after bloom. Trim any brown or damaged leaves through summer, and clear away dead foliage in late fall to reduce iris borer. Divide every three to five years, in July or August, when the clump becomes crowded and blooms start to drop off.
History: 'Play with Fire' was introduced in 1987 by Schreiner's, the Oregon family nursery known for its tall bearded irises. It earned an Honorable Mention from the American Iris Society in 1989.
Final Thoughts: Full sun and deer resistant. Plant it near the patio and let things heat up. YOU WERE WARNED.
