Pacific Coast Iris Mauve Shades

A visual feast of soft, lilac and mauve tones, Pacific Coast Iris Mauve Shades produces an abundance of elegant flowers that bring a sense of calm and serenity to the spring garden. Each bloom is highlighted by a glowing golden centre and fine, delicate veining across the petals, adding subtle texture and enhancing the natural beauty of the flower.

Also known as Californian Iris, Pacific Coast Iris are the divas of the Iris world. These low growing hybrids show off clumps of grass-like foliage and beardless flowers in an array of amazing colours and are possibly one of the most colourful and truly striking of all the Iris groups, but as truly captivating as this category of Iris are, be warned; these beautiful plants are extremely tricky to grow and this is why they are rarely offered for sale!

Originating on the Pacific Coast of America and California, these easy to hybridize varieties are extremely particular about how they are treated and do need extra effort in order to establish and grow well.

A neutral to acid soil with good drainage is a must, and they prefer a dappled shade position rather than full sun where a lot of other Iris species tend to grow well. These plants resent root disturbance and as such will often take a few years to settle in and begin to flower, but when they do it is a sight to behold so the wait is definitely worth it. Pacific Coast Iris love a wet Winter and will enjoy regular Spring rains, but once Summer comes these plants require watering only once a week at the most. They will not tolerate humid weather and they need their root systems to be kept reasonably dry and cool during the Summer. Mulching is an absolute must, and if plants are potted ensure they are not in a sunny position and do not overwater.

The final key for success with this variety is transplanting and repotting times. This can only be done when the roots are actively growing or the plants will most likely fail. Any sort of disturbance to the roots needs to be done between May & July, just as they are emerging from dormancy and new white roots are developing. (Check for this by having a gentle scratch around the base of your plants and be guided by what you find- if the roots are white, now is the time- if not, it is best to reschedule.) Division or repotting at other times of the year is extremely risky and you run the risk of losing most of your precious plants.

Some of these plants are coming out of their Winter dormancy and as such will have a small amount of foliage on them. Simply plant it out into the planned position and as the season progresses new shoots and foliage will begin to appear.

**Please Note: These Pacific Coast Irises have been thoughtfully grouped into ‘shades of’ collections, with each variety sharing similar colour characteristics within its group. Please note that the image provided is for guidance only and may not represent the exact variety you receive. However, rest assured that every plant in this selection is part of our stunning first release and will reward you with vibrant spring blooms in the beautiful colour palette you’ve chosen.

CAUTION Harmful if eaten