Walking Iris

How to choose a walking iris

The Walking Iris is the classic form, a neat clump around half a metre tall with white flowers marked in blue and violet at the centre. The Regina Walking Iris belongs to a taller species, Neomarica caerulea, which carries blue to purple flowers above upright leaves that can pass a metre, so it suits the back of a border or a spot where you want some height. The Yellow Walking Iris sits between the two in size and has yellow flowers with brown banding at the base of the petals.

All three have the same easy nature. For a groundcover under trees, choose the lower growing kinds and let them spread. For a feature clump or a large pot, the taller Regina type gives more presence.

Where walking iris grows

Walking iris suit subtropical, tropical and warm temperate gardens. They grow well in part shade and in the bright dappled shade under trees, and they flower more freely with some morning sun. Hot afternoon sun can scorch the leaves, particularly inland. They tolerate humidity well and cope with root competition once established, which makes them useful under palms and large trees. Frost damages the foliage, so in cooler districts grow them under cover of an eave or canopy, or in a pot that can be moved.

They mix well with other plants for partial shade and with grasses and strappy leaf plants in a layered planting. For warm gardens, see also our subtropical plants for warm climates.

Planting and spacing

Plant in soil improved with compost, in a position that drains freely but does not dry out completely. Space the lower growing forms 40 to 50 centimetres apart for a groundcover that knits together, and allow 60 to 80 centimetres for the taller types. Set the plant at the same depth it sat in the pot, water it in and mulch around the clump. In pots, use a good quality potting mix and a container wide enough for the fan to spread.

Care basics

Water regularly through the first summer, then during dry spells. Established clumps are fairly tough, but they look fuller and flower better with steady moisture in the warm months. Feed in spring with a slow release fertiliser. Remove spent leaves at the base to keep the fans tidy.

After flowering, small plantlets form at the tips of the flower stalks. As they gain weight the stalk bends over, and where a plantlet touches soil it roots and starts a new clump. Leave them if you want the planting to spread, or cut them off and pot them up to make new plants. Large clumps can also be lifted and divided in spring or early autumn.

Common questions

Why is it called walking iris?

New plantlets grow on the flower stalks, which arch over until the plantlets reach the ground and root. Over time the clump appears to walk across the garden bed.

How long do the flowers last?

Each flower lasts about a day, but a healthy clump opens flushes of blooms over several weeks from spring into summer.

Will walking iris grow in full shade?

It grows in shade, but flowering is lighter. Bright dappled light or morning sun gives the most blooms.

Can I grow walking iris in a pot?

Yes. It grows well in a wide pot or hanging basket, where the arching stalks and plantlets can trail over the edge.