Regina Walking Iris

Regina Walking Iris (Neomarica caerulea 'Regina') is the clumping iris that handles heat, humidity and damp ground without complaint. It forms an upright fan of strappy leaves to about 1m tall and 80cm across, and through the warmer months it throws tall stems of scented blue and purple flowers above the foliage. The name is honest: plantlets form on the flowering stems, which bend down and root, so a clump slowly walks outwards.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers worth leaning in for. The blue and purple blooms are intricately marked and genuinely fragrant, unusual in a plant this easy.
• Damp ground is not a problem. It tolerates wet feet, so it works in the low corner where most flowering plants sulk or rot.
• It takes shade. Part shade suits it, so it brings colour to the side of the house and under established trees.
• Evergreen structure all year. Out of bloom the fans still hold their shape, so a border planted with it never looks empty.
• Almost nothing to do. No spraying, no staking, no annual cutback. Tidying spent stems once a year is the whole list.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 60cm apart in drifts. The fans knit into a continuous band within two seasons, and the walking habit fills any gaps for you.

Borders and edging. The upright habit suits a path edge or the front of a shrub bed, holding a clean line at knee to hip height.

Pots and feature planting. A single clump in a 400mm pot makes a strong vertical accent on a shaded patio.

Growing Regina Walking Iris in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade is the sweet spot, though it takes full sun in cooler districts if kept moist. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, and coastal humidity suits it. It handles light frost only, so in cold gardens grow it in a pot you can move under cover.

Soil. Not fussy. Ordinary garden soil improved with compost is fine, and unlike most flowering perennials it copes with heavy ground that stays damp. Mulch 50mm deep, clear of the crowns.

Water and feed. Keep it moist through the first summer, then water weekly in dry spells. It is not a drought plant, and leaf tips brown off if it dries out. A slow release fertiliser in early spring carries a season of flowering.

Pruning and division. Cut spent stems back once the plantlets have rooted, or peg them down where you want a new clump. Divide congested clumps every three or four years in spring.

What to expect when it arrives

Regina is grown in two sizes: tube stock, and 200mm pots in packs of six. Tube plants are young, usually a fan of three or four leaves, and they are the value choice for a large bed. A pack of six 200mm plants covers roughly three metres of border at the recommended spacing.

Strappy leaved plants travel well, and a few creased leaves after transit is cosmetic. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. New growth shows within three to four weeks in warm weather, with the first flowers the following spring. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse strappy leaf and grass style plants
• Compare flowering plants for garden colour
• Plants suited to mass planting and drifts
• Preparing a garden bed before planting

Common questions

How long do the flowers last?

Each bloom opens for about a day, which sounds disappointing until you see the plant in season. A healthy clump flowers in succession over weeks, so there is always something open.

How far apart should I plant it?

Sixty centimetres apart for mass planting or a border run. The clumps reach about 80cm across, so they overlap slightly and close the bed without crowding each other out.

Is it safe around pets?

We do not list it as pet friendly. Plants in the iris family carry compounds in the rhizomes that can upset a dog or cat that digs and chews, so choose something else if yours does.