Dwarf Crested Iris

This hardy little plant is often hard to find in garden centers, but it isn’t difficult to grow – making it a uniquely easy accent for a sunny or partly-shaded spot. Strappy foliage rises to approximately six inches, then upward-facing blossoms open wide in shades of lilac-blue with a white and gold patch on the outer three petals. Like most iris, they should be planted with some of the rhizome visible above the soil in a well-draining spot. Dwarf Crested Iris is an early spring bloomer, and thus makes a wonderful companion for primroses, or ephemeral beauties such as trout lilies and trillium. It’s a vigorous spreader, and can be used very successfully as a ground cover, particularly in woodland gardens where the dagger-like foliage will not be burned by the sun. This classic, often hard-to-find North American plant is great for wild gardens.