The American Iris Society Honorable Mention 2005
Supplement your garden's beauty with the award-winning Chocolate Moose, a tall bearded iris that reaches an impressive height of up to 3 feet. This stunning perennial captivates with its midsummer blooms, showcasing a dramatic blend of dark purple to chocolate brown petals streaked with white, yellow shoulders, and burnt yellow beards. Standing proudly on sturdy stems above elegant sword-like blue-green foliage, these flowers emit a delicate sweet fragrance that draws butterflies and other pollinators. Perfect for striking summer bouquets and standout floral arrangements, Chocolate Moose is long-lasting as a cut flower.
This Iris germanica cultivar thrives with an upright, clumping growth habit and a rhizomatous root system, allowing it to spread and form large, vigorous clumps over time. The tetraploid nature of Chocolate Moose means it boasts robust growth and resilience. Bearded irises like Chocolate Moose make a bold statement in mixed beds, borders, and foundation plantings, especially when planted in groups. Overcrowded clumps can be divided and replanted to maintain their vitality.
Renowned for their hardy, low-maintenance nature, bearded irises flourish in full sun to partial shade, needing at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. They prefer well-drained soil with a pH of 6.1 to 7.2 and require consistent moisture while avoiding overly wet conditions that can cause root rot. Once established, these irises exhibit excellent drought and heat tolerance. To encourage prolific blooming, feed your irises with Espoma Organic® Flower-tone® Blossom Booster approximately six weeks before they flower. Additionally, these irises are deer and rabbit resistant, making them a practical and beautiful addition to any garden.
