Iris Sapphire Beauty Dutch Iris

Often grown as annuals, Dutch iris hybrids can be planted in fall or in early spring. This classic variety graces the garden with exquisite flowers in late spring. A favorite of gardeners and florists alike, the elegant blooms flaunt dark blue standards and paler blue falls highlighted by a yellow "flame". They create magical displays in the garden rising above grassy green leaves on stately stems, reaching 18 to 20 inches tall. Lovely and long-lasting, the flowers make excellent cuts for floral displays.

An Iris x hollandica species, commonly called Dutch iris, Sapphire Beauty is a bulbous perennial with a columnar upright habit. It grows easily in USDA Zones 6-8, where it will naturalize—with bulbs multiplying and plants returning for years to come. Plant in large, sweeping drifts or cluster in flower beds, borders, and containers.

Plant Sapphire Beauty iris bulbs 4 inches apart and 5 inches deep. Or for broad sweeps of blue blooms, plant bulbs in large numbers, about 15 bulbs per square foot. Choose a sheltered, sunny location with fertile, free-draining soil. Soil should be kept moist and never allowed to dry out in summer. If growing in Zone 5, add a 2-inch layer of mulch in fall. Once growth begins, fertilize the bulbs with a specialized bulb food. Sapphire Beauty Dutch irises are deer resistant and rodent resistant.

Iris flowers are unique and hardy with different planting forms including rhizomes and bulbs, that make them easy to plant, divide, and multiply . Colorful options that include traditional purples and blues in addition to bi-colored varieties. Visit our Bulb Supplies page to find all the tools and materials you need to plant and maintain your bulb plants successfully.