Wikimedia Commons
Iridaceae
Ice Blue Iris
Iris pallida
Cool serenity and timeless grace.
- Family
- Iridaceae
- Genus
- Iris
- Native to
- Dalmatian coast (Croatia)
- Bloom season
- Late Spring
- Type
- rhizomatous perennial
- Height
- 60–100 cm
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- well-drained, slightly alkaline
- Water
- low; drought-tolerant once established
- Hardiness
- 4–9
- Lifespan
- perennial; decades
Did you know
- Iris pallida is the primary source of orris root, which takes 3–5 years of drying to develop its violet scent.
- The 'pallida' name means pale, referring to the ghostly blue flowers and silvery-green sword leaves.
- It has been cultivated around Grasse, France, and in Tuscany for centuries for the perfume industry.
- Orris root is one of the most expensive natural fragrances, costing more per kilogram than most essential oils.
- The variegated cultivar 'Argentea Variegata' is grown as much for its striped foliage as its flowers.
Color meanings
Pale Blue
serene beauty
Lavender
timeless elegance