Latin Name: Iris pseudacorus
Common name: Yellow Flag Iris
Iris pseudacorus is native to Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa and although you won’t see this flowering in January, it’s a beautifully bright way to start off our year of Plant of the Month.
With its narrow leaves and erect stems, it bears a resemblance to a sword shape. The flowers have 3 large spreading, or pendant, petals alternating with 3 erect, often smaller, standard petals in late winter, spring or early summer.
It can grow up to 1.5m in height and its gorgeous yellow flowers can be up to 10cm in width.
A British wild native marginal iris, these pond plants are suitable for lakes, ponds, streams and bog gardens in full sun at a water depth of 0-20cm over the rhizome.
It’s a non-invasive plant that removes nitrates from the water, is frost hardy, Koi carp and duck proof (always a bonus!), attracts amphibians to your pond or lake as well as butterflies and bees. What’s not to love?
Plant your plugs between October and April and it will spread naturally once established by underground rhizomes.
Expect to see it flowering in spring or early summer.