Bearded iris
Iris germanica
Also called Flag iris and German iris
Garden plant · PerennialsPlant the rhizome half out of the ground, facing the sun. Buried, it makes leaves and never flowers again.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 8 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun — the rhizome must bake
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Low
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a very cold winter RHS H6, to -20°C
- Size
- 0.75 m tall · 0.3 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Southern Europe
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
Affects dogs, cats, horses.
PeopleHarmful if eaten
The rhizome most of all.
HandlingTake care handling it
RHS category C — harmful if eaten.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-08-03.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.