Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Purple Dragon's Valley Iris: Tall Purple for the Wet Side of the Yard
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Purple Dragon's Valley pseudata iris is a tall, vigorous iris for wet places. Its flat, open flowers, about 6.5 inches across and large for a pseudata, have reddish-purple standards over falls marked with a deep purple band around a bright yellow signal. Several open in turn on tall stems above a dense fan of dark green, sword-shaped leaves.
It prefers more moisture than lavender will tolerate, so it belongs in a moister bed, rain garden or pond edge. Its flowers open in June, a little ahead of the lavender season.
Purple Dragon's Valley at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Iris × pseudata 'Purple Dragon's Valley' |
| Flowers | Reddish purple with a deep purple band around a bright yellow signal |
| Foliage | Long, sword-shaped, dark green |
| Size | 45 to 54 inches tall, about 48 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid-June, peaks late June |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Deer | Resistant |
What a pseudata iris is
Pseudatas are hybrids between yellow flag iris and Japanese iris. They combine vigor, a high bud count and a long bloom season, and because they are sterile, they will not seed around. This one handles wetter ground than most garden irises, yet also grows in ordinary border soil if you water it in dry spells.
Planning wet and dry together
Many properties have both: a high, sunny, well-drained spot perfect for lavender and a low spot where water collects after rain. Purple Dragon's Valley is a handsome way to use that low spot. Its height, up to four and a half feet, brings structure to a rain garden or pond edge, and its purple flowers echo the lavender across the yard. Bloom comes in mid to late June, so the iris opens first and the lavender follows.
Keep the two apart. Soil wet enough for this iris would rot lavender roots. Sort out wet and dry zones in the Companion Plant Planner.
Care notes
- Soil: average to moist. Crowns can rot in stagnant water, so moving or seasonal water is better than a permanent puddle.
- Heat: vigorous in summer heat, keeping its foliage fresher than Japanese iris in average soil when watered in dry spells.
- Problems: iris leaf spot and iris borer are the main possibilities. Good airflow helps in long wet spells.
- Fall: cut the foliage back in late fall. It is hardy in Michigan.
- Dividing: split crowded clumps in late summer.
About the bare root plant
It is offered as a bare root plant. Plant the rhizome shallowly in moist soil, firm it in and water well. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a good cut flower?
Yes. Cut stems when the first bud is opening; the rest will open in the vase over several days.
Is iris safe for pets?
No. Iris rhizomes and leaves are irritating and can cause stomach upset if eaten.
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