Iris versicolor 'Purple Flame' Plants

A new spin on a classic native!  The purple flame iris has unique purple leaves at emergence in the spring. These sword-like leaves are a decandent eggplant purple when they break ground and slowly mature to green with a light purple casting as temperatures warm.  In late May the beautiful foliage gives way to violet blue blooms for weeks.  The blooms are darker in color than the species (Iris veriscolor) and it has a similar blooming duration that lasts well into the middle of June; if not going longer.  A choice plant for the mixed border, en masse plantings, and  for tucking along ponds and streams.  This plant was found at the Mt. Cuba center and has been a wonderful specimen in our garden.
Bloom Time: May-June
Light Exposure: Full Sun-Partial Shade (blooms longer in partial shade
Soil Type/pH: Well-drained/5.0-7.0 
Hardiness Zones: 2-7
Fertilizer: Use an inch of compost or an all-purpose granular fertilizer at planting. Normally plants that are grown submerged in water do not need fertilizer but if the growth is slow, you can use slow dissolving plant food tablets for pond plants.

Size: 50 cell plugs