Bearded Iris (Iris germanica)

common name: 
Bearded iris
 | 
scientific name: 
Iris
 
germanica
Bright yellow iris flower with ruffled petals in sunlight, surrounded by green foliage.

'Cornhusker' bearded iris (Iris germanica 'Cornhusker') blooming in southeast Nebraska in May of 2026.

Image Creadit: 
Trey Lamkins, Graduate Research Assistant

Bearded iris (Iris germanica) is a classic garden perennial prized for its bold, intricate flowers and reliable performance in a wide range of landscapes. Blooming in mid to late spring, its large, ruffled flowers feature a distinctive “beard” of fuzzy hairs along the falls, often highlighted in contrasting colors. Available in nearly every color imaginable, bearded irises add strong visual interest and vertical structure to garden beds and borders.

Charecteristics
Plant type: 
Herbaceous perennial
Hardiness Zones: 
3, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7, 8, 9
Light Needs: 
Full Sun
Water Needs: 
Dry
Space Requirements: 
12 inches – 3 feet
Height Requirements: 
2–4 feet
Spread Requirements: 
1–2 feet
Bloom Color: 
White
Red
Pink
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Lavender
Purple
Bloom Time: 
Spring
Leaf Color: 
Green
Variegated
Companion Plant Tolerance: 
Drought
Dry Soil
Shallow-rocky Soil
Uses: 
Ground Cover
Varieties
'Immortality'

'Immortality' is a popular reblooming white bearded iris that produces fragrant flowers in late spring with a second flush in late summer to fall under favorable conditions. It is valued for its reliability and extended seasonal interest.

 

Purple iris flower with ruffled petals in a grassy outdoor setting.
'Brambleberry Bust'

'Brambleberry Bust' is a striking cultivar featuring rich raspberry-purple standards and deeper, velvety falls, often accented with a contrasting beard. It is valued for its bold coloration and strong garden presence.

White iris flower with ruffled petals in a grassy outdoor setting.
'Bluebeard’s Ghost'

‘Bluebeard’s Ghost’ is known for its soft, icy blue to near-white blooms with a delicate, ghostly appearance. Its subtle coloration and refined form make it a standout in mixed perennial plantings and iris collections.