Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Bicolor Iris
Bicolor Iris forms an upright clump of slender, sword-like leaves about 1 to 3 feet tall. Pale to lemon-yellow, iris-like flowers with dark spots open on tall stems from spring into fall. It is used by pools and water features, on patios and entries, and in containers. In the Valley it does best with afternoon shade.
Best for: poolsides and water features, patios and entries, containers, and yellow flowers in part shade.
Its upright clump and yellow flowers suit poolsides, ponds and water features. Plant it along the pool edge or beside a fountain.
Flowers open in waves from spring into fall, so there is a steady show near patios and entries. Plant it where you pass it every day.
It grows well in containers and in larger border areas. In a pot, its long bloom season shows close to where people sit.
It does best with afternoon shade in the Valley. Leaf tips can be damaged below freezing, and hard cold near 18°F hurts it.
- Closer planting2 ft apart
- Wider planting3 ft apart
Water new plants often while they root in. Once rooted, give regular, moderate water in soil that drains.
Plant it where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade, or dappled light under a tree.
Remove dead flower stalks and old leaves. Every few years, cut the foliage back to renew it.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does bicolor iris get?
It forms a clump about 1 to 3 feet tall and wide. Give each plant that much room in a bed or pot.
When does bicolor iris bloom?
Flowers open in waves from spring into fall, with pale to lemon-yellow petals and dark spots near the center.
Does bicolor iris need shade in Phoenix?
Yes. It does best with morning sun and afternoon shade, or dappled light under a tree.
How much water does it need?
Give it regular, moderate water in soil that drains well, so the roots never sit wet.
Is it good by a pool?
Yes. It is used beside pools and water features, so plant it along the pool edge or near a fountain.
How cold hardy is it?
It is rated to about 18°F, and leaf tips can be damaged below 32°F. Trim off damaged tips once the weather warms.
What maintenance does it need?
Remove dead flower stalks and trim dead leaves. Every few years you can cut the foliage back to renew it.
Is it evergreen?
Yes. It keeps its leaves all year, so the clump stays green through winter.
Bicolor Iris for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Bicolor Iris is an evergreen clump with yellow iris-like flowers from spring into fall. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard, from size and sun to water, cold, bloom and cleanup.
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Bicolor iris in Phoenix
Bicolor iris is an evergreen clump with yellow iris-like flowers. In Phoenix it does best with afternoon shade.
Bicolor iris by the pool
It is used beside pools, ponds and water features. Plant it along the pool edge or beside a fountain.
Watering bicolor iris
Give it regular, moderate water in soil that drains well. That keeps it blooming through the season.
Bicolor iris bloom season
It blooms in waves from spring into fall. The pale to lemon-yellow flowers have dark spots near the center.
Bicolor iris cold hardiness
It is rated to about 18°F. Leaf tips can burn below freezing, so trim them off once the weather warms.
Bicolor iris care
Remove dead flower stalks and old leaves as needed. Every few years you can cut the foliage back to renew it.
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