Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor)

Blue Flag Iris

Elegant purple flowering marginal plant for wildlife friendly pond edges

Blue Flag Iris, also known as Iris versicolor, is a beautiful and highly versatile marginal pond plant that brings both colour and structure to pond margins and bog gardens. With its striking deep purple flowers and upright foliage, this elegant perennial is a favourite for creating natural, wildlife friendly planting schemes.

Flowering in early to mid summer, typically from June to July, Blue Flag Iris produces rich purple blooms with intricate yellow and white markings at the centre. These detailed flowers not only add visual interest but also attract bees and other pollinators, helping to support a healthy pond ecosystem. The flowers sit proudly above the foliage, creating a bold display that stands out along the water’s edge.

The plant’s tall, sword like leaves grow in neat clumps, providing vertical structure and adding height to planting areas. This upright growth habit makes it ideal for softening pond edges and blending planting zones into the surrounding garden. The foliage also offers valuable shelter for aquatic life and is particularly beneficial for dragonflies and damselflies, which use the stems for perching and emerging from the water.

Blue Flag Iris thrives in moist to wet soils and is well suited to shallow pond margins or boggy areas. It tolerates both full sun and partial shade, making it a flexible option for a wide range of garden conditions. Once established, it is hardy and reliable, returning year after year with minimal maintenance.

This plant is an excellent choice for anyone looking to create a natural pond environment that supports wildlife while still offering strong visual appeal. Please note that all parts of the plant are harmful if eaten, so care should be taken around pets.

🇬🇧 UK-grown aquatic plant: Grown at a dedicated aquatic plant nursery in the South of England and carefully prepared for delivery across the UK.

Key Benefits

• Stunning deep purple flowers with detailed markings
• Adds height and structure to pond margins
• Attracts pollinators such as bees
• Supports dragonflies and damselflies
• Ideal for wildlife friendly ponds and natural planting
• Hardy and reliable in UK conditions
• Suitable for both sun and partial shade

Reasons to Buy

• Beautiful flowering marginal plant for ponds
• Perfect for creating a natural, established look
• Great for attracting wildlife to your pond
• Strong upright growth adds structure and interest
• Supplied ready planted for easy installation

Care Instructions

• Place the plant on a marginal shelf at a depth of 0 cm to 15 cm, measured from the top of the basket to the water surface.
• Grow in consistently moist or wet soil for best results. Position in full sun or partial shade. After flowering, remove spent blooms and cut back foliage once it dies back in autumn. Divide clumps every few years in early spring to maintain vigour and prevent overcrowding.

Flowering Period

June to July

Size and Growing Conditions

Dispatching Your Pond Plants

Your Blue Flag Iris will be carefully packed to protect the foliage and roots during transit.

Orders received by 11am Monday to Wednesday are normally dispatched on the following working day using a next working day courier service. During busy periods, dispatch may occasionally take an extra day.

To avoid plants being held in depots over a weekend, we do not usually dispatch on Fridays. Highlands and Islands orders using a two day service are not normally dispatched on Thursdays.

Available basket sizes:

• 1 Litre Basket – usually 11 × 11 × 11cm square; some varieties may be supplied in a 14cm diameter × 10cm round basket
• Pack of 3 × 1 Litre Baskets – each usually 11 × 11 × 11cm square
• 3 Litre Hexagonal Basket – 18 × 18 × 16cm

Planting depth is measured from the top of the aquatic basket to the water surface.

Finofil baskets are manufactured in the UK from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable. Their fine dual-mesh construction helps retain aquatic soil while allowing water and nutrients to reach the roots. Basket shape may vary slightly depending on the plant and supplier availability.

Explore more marginal pond plants or browse our complete pond plants range. Need baskets, aquatic soil or planting essentials? Browse our pond plant baskets and aquatic planting supplies.