Common Name: iris
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Iridaceae
Native Range: Eastern Asia
Zone: 6 to 9
Height: 2.00 to 2.50 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom Description: Yellow
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy
Fruit: Showy
Tolerate: Deer
Culture
Best grown in moist, humusy, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Established plants tolerate some dry conditions. Best in sunny locations, but this species is more shade-tolerant than many other species of Iris. Divide in late summer as needed.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Iris maackii is a yellow flag iris that is native to moist soils near ponds and lakes from northeastern China into eastern Russia. It is a rhizomatous iris that features sword-shaped gray-green leaves (to 18" long) and yellow flowers (to 2" diameter) on branched flowering scapes rising to as much as 32" tall. May flowers are followed in summer by attractive seed heads.
Genus named for the Greek goddess of the rainbow.
Specific epithet honors Russian naturalist Richard Maack (1825-1886).
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Good iris for moist soils of pond peripheries.