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perennial

Bearded iris

Iris germanica

Preview: plant data is awaiting horticulturist review. A professional horticulturist hasn't reviewed our plant table yet. Lists still follow fixed rules for zone, sun, pets, deer and invasive status.

Iris germanica is a semi-evergreen perennial for gardens in zones 3–9. Expect 2–3 ft of height and 1–2 ft of spread; our lists space it 1.5 ft apart. It does best in full sun with little water once established. Expect purple flowers in April to June. In a FloraVista list it usually plays the filler role: a flowering plant that fills the middle or front of the bed. Deer usually leave it alone, and it is toxic to dogs and cats. Our rules leave it out of lists in Florida and the Gulf, where summer heat, humidity or mild winters hold it back even inside its zone range.

Facts from our plant table

Botanical name
Iris germanica
Plant type
Perennial, semi evergreen
Hardiness zones
3 to 9
Sun
Full sun (6+ hours)
Water
Low
Soil
Well-drained soil; plant rhizomes at the surface.
Mature size
2–3 ft tall × 1–2 ft wide
Spacing
1.5 ft apart (centre to centre)
Growth rate
Medium
Bloom
Apr–Jun · purple
Roles in a bed
Filler
Styles
cottage, classic, low water
Deer resistance
High: deer rarely eat it
Pets
Toxic to dogs and cats. ASPCA lists iris as toxic (rhizomes): vomiting, drooling.
Native to
Not native to the US (or a garden hybrid)
Pot size and price
1-gallon pot, typically $10–$18 (easy to find)
Plant in
Spring or Fall
First-year watering
Water weekly through the first summer until roots establish, then only during long dry spells.
Pruning
Cut flower stalks after bloom; trim leaves to a fan in late summer.

Sources: ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List (from general knowledge; not re-checked unless verification is web-checked); Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder and grower tags; State extension service guidance and USDA PLANTS distribution maps; Rutgers NJAES Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance; Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States and state noxious weed lists; Typical 2026 US garden-centre and big-box retail listings (estimate). Not yet reviewed by a horticulturist.

Guides that include this plant

Good companions

The plants our list engine most often puts in the same bed as Bearded iris, across the sun, zone, pet, deer and style combinations it fits.

If you can't find it

Substitutes our engine offers for Bearded iris: same role in the bed, passing the same rules.

How this page was made

This page was generated from this plant's record in FloraVista's plant table by fixed rules. The companions and substitutes come from the lists our rules engine composes. No named expert has reviewed this page.

Data status: the plant table is awaiting review by a horticulturist. Check each plant with a local nursery or extension office before you buy.

Sources

  • Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, state extension services and the USDA PLANTS database (zones, size, sun, water, bloom, native range)
  • ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists (dog and cat toxicity)
  • Rutgers NJAES and regional extension deer-resistance ratings
  • State noxious-weed and invasive-plant lists and the Invasive Plant Atlas of the US
  • Typical US garden-centre listings (pot size and price band)

Generated . How FloraVista chooses plants