Iris setosa 'Hokkaido Purple'

Beachhead iris are a common sight when traveling in frigid coastal climates from the Northern United States to Asia. Our offering of Iris setosa 'Hokkaido Purple' are seed grown plants, from a collection made on the cold sea coast of Hokkaido, Japan, where they grow in low, wet areas just behind the beach dunes. For us, the 2' tall, dense clumps of upright, sword-like green foliage are topped, starting for us in mid-May, with dark purple flowers, each highlighted by a dramatic yellow throat. We have found Iris setosa 'Hokkaido Purple' thrives for us in both moist and fairly dry soils, surprisingly having no qualms about our heat and humidity.