Gold-Variegated Sweet Iris, Zebra Iris 'Aureo Variegata'

I grow this iris on the south side of my house, in a fairly sheltered location in my zone 2b garden here in Manitoba, Canada. It is not ...Read Morea fast multiplier by any means but will bloom each year. I am keeping it because of its variegated foliage, not its flowers.

This plant grew for several years in my garden without blooming. I liked the foliage, but I was almost ready to dig it up if it wasn't g...Read Moreoing to give me anything more (I wanted the space for other things). Then, three or four years ago, when we removed several trees, providing it with more sun, it bloomed beautifully. It is long-blooming, blooms prolifically, and--a bonus--has an intriguing grape soda (or grape Kool-Aid) fragrance, noticeable from several feet away. (I'm glad I didn't dig it up.)

This is the plant that provides orris root. It has been used as a perfume fixative for centuries and was considered medicinal in medieva...Read Morel times (liver disease and edema). See KillerPlants.com. My apologies for not being able to name specific sites but several say that it can be highly allerginic as a fixative and a couple say it can be toxic. In Magick, it is used as a pendulum, to draw love, and as protection. Irises in general grow happily in Zone 6 so I assume this will too.

Sold as a shade of blue, it's not blue, it's a soft purple color. Does not grows as well as other Bearded Iris, needs staking against win...Read Mored when in bloom.

Grew best in full sun, well watered (not sandy) soil. Full sun in North, part shade in South; divide every 3-4 years for best blooms.