Iris 'War Chief'

Plant Iris 'War Chief' bulbs in late summer into fall, and in late spring to early summer, this tall bearded iris blooms heavily in dramatic, slightly ruffled flowers with nonfading rich ruby red standards and falls and a fuzzy golden beard. The flowers are borne in abundance on tall, sturdy scapes that produce 4 branches with 11 to 13 buds and sit atop sword-shaped grey-green foliage that stays fresh-looking all season. The flowers attract pollinators, especially butterflies and hummingbirds, and make elegant, long-lasting cuts for spring bouquets.

An Iris germanica variety, commonly called bearded iris or German iris, 'War Chief' has a clumping habit and moderate growth rate. Iris bulbs are often grown as annuals, but grown in appropriate Zones, they will multiply every year and are great for naturalizing. They are shown to best effect when planted in a large drift or in groups of 10 to 15 bulbs in mixed beds, borders, or containers.

Bearded irises are so easy to grow, they're virtually foolproof. Cold hardy, they grow almost anywhere but perform best in sunny to partially shady locations with rich, humusy, moist, well-draining soil. Iris 'War Chief' is deer resistant.