Yellow Walking Iris

Yellow Walking Iris (Neomarica longifolia) is the strappy leaved iris relative that spreads by walking: the flower stems bend to the ground and root where they touch, so one plant slowly becomes a colony. It makes a clump about 80cm tall and 60cm wide, with fragrant yellow flowers marked in brown through the warm months. Each bloom lasts a day, but they keep coming for weeks.

Why you'll love it

• It plants itself. Plantlets form on the arching flower stems and root where they land, filling a bed at no extra cost.
• Fragrant flowers over months. Bright yellow blooms open in succession from spring through the warm season, and the scent is genuine.
• Evergreen structure. Upright strappy foliage holds its shape all year, so the bed still reads well between flushes.
• Tough in real conditions. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and comfortable in humidity, which covers most of the warm half of the country.
• Very little upkeep. No staking, no deadheading, and one tidy up a year.

Where it works best

Mass planting and groundcover. Plant 40cm apart for a dense mass planting. At that spacing the clumps close within two seasons and the walking habit fills any gaps for you.

Borders and edging. The upright leaves give a clean line along a path or a driveway, and the flowers sit at a height where you notice them.

Pots and containers. A 300mm pot holds a clump for years. Container growing also keeps the spreading habit under control, which suits a small courtyard.

Growing yellow walking iris in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the most flowers, though it accepts part shade with a looser habit. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It takes light frost only, so in cool temperate and inland districts grow it in a pot that can move under cover for winter.

Soil. Free draining soil with compost through it. It is not fussy about type and copes with sandy ground, but the rhizomes rot in soil that stays wet.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer to settle the clump, then only in dry spells. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough for a full season of flowering.

Grooming. Pull old leaves away at the base once a year in late winter. Lift and divide congested clumps every three or four years, and pot up the rooted plantlets to spread it elsewhere.

What to expect when it arrives

This iris is sold in one size, as tube stock. That works well for its main uses, because mass planting and edging both need numbers, and tubes establish quickly in warm soil. Expect a young plant with a small fan of leaves rather than a flowering clump.

Strappy leaved plants travel well, though the odd bent leaf is normal. Water on arrival and plant within a few days. Expect a full clump by the end of the first warm season, and reliable flowering from the second spring. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse grasses and strappy leaf plants
• Choosing the right edging plants
• More plants suited to mass planting

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Forty centimetres apart for a mass planting, which closes over in about two seasons. Along a narrow border you can push to 30cm for a faster line.

Will it take over the garden?

It spreads steadily rather than aggressively, and it moves only where a flower stem can reach the soil. Edging, paving or a pot stops it, and unwanted plantlets pull out easily.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Its toxicity has not been established, so we do not list it as pet friendly. Many plants in the iris family irritate the mouth if chewed, so treat it with the same caution.