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Perennial · Iridaceae family

German iris

Iris ×germanica

Full sun 0.6–0.9 m × 0.3–0.6 m Flowers May–June to −37 °C
Flower colours Click a colour

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun
Size0.6–0.9 m
spacing 40 cm
FlowersMay–June
PlantingJuly–September
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun, in dry to average soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

acidic to neutral soil
acidicneutralalkaline
dry to averageloamysandygravelly

Watering

do not waterlogless when it rains

Frost

−37 °C
no winter protectiondies back in winter, regrows in spring

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

50 cm1 m1.5 m0.6–0.9 mspread 0.3–0.6 m
0.6–0.9 m× spread 0.3–0.6 m

Plant 40 cm apart.

Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersPlantingFeeding
Now, in October: nothing to do — the next job is in May.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June · purple, blue, white, yellow or orange

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

division: July–September

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

March

Feeding

Nutrition.

Light
balanced fertiliser
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

High riskMedium riskLow riskRisk for this plant according to the source · no label = no documented level

Iris leaf spot

Cladosporium iridis
Medium riskdiseasesource covers the whole genus

What you will see

Water-soaked spots that turn brown with a yellow margin and merge.

The source says: it is seen most commonly on bearded iris.

When to look

Mainly in spring and summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • At the end of the year, remove leaf debris.
  2. By hand summerPull off lightly affected leaves, but do not strip too many.
Iris leaf spotdisease · mainly in spring and summerMedium risk

What you will see

Water-soaked spots that turn brown with a yellow margin and merge.

The source says: it is seen most commonly on bearded iris.

When to look

Mainly in spring and summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • At the end of the year, remove leaf debris.
  2. By hand summerPull off lightly affected leaves, but do not strip too many.

Rhizome rot

Pectobacterium carotovorum
diseasesource covers the whole genus

What you will see

Slimy, foul-smelling rot of the rhizome, the fan of leaves collapses.

When to look

Mainly in spring and summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Plant rhizomes partly exposed in free-draining soil.
  2. By hand summerCut out small affected areas with a disinfected knife and let them dry.
Rhizome rotdisease · mainly in spring and summer

What you will see

Slimy, foul-smelling rot of the rhizome, the fan of leaves collapses.

When to look

Mainly in spring and summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Plant rhizomes partly exposed in free-draining soil.
  2. By hand summerCut out small affected areas with a disinfected knife and let them dry.

Iris rust

Puccinia iridis
diseasesource covers the whole genus

What you will see

Small spots with orange-brown pustules, later black.

When to look

Mainly in spring and summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Remove debris at the end of the year. The alternate host is nettle.
  2. By hand summerPull off lightly affected leaves.
Iris rustdisease · mainly in spring and summer

What you will see

Small spots with orange-brown pustules, later black.

When to look

Mainly in spring and summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Remove debris at the end of the year. The alternate host is nettle.
  2. By hand summerPull off lightly affected leaves.

Iris mosaic virus

diseasesource covers the whole genus

What you will see

Pale green spots and streaks on leaves, broken flower colour.

When to look

Mainly in spring and summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Control aphids (the carriers).
  2. By hand once noticedDispose of plants with reduced vigour.
Iris mosaic virusdisease · mainly in spring and summer

What you will see

Pale green spots and streaks on leaves, broken flower colour.

When to look

Mainly in spring and summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Control aphids (the carriers).
  2. By hand once noticedDispose of plants with reduced vigour.
Sources (2)

What to combine it with

Same needs, different flowering.

They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.

Ready-made Studio combinations with this plant

Click a combination — the Studio opens a new raised bed with it already planted.

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does German iris flower?

In May–June; the flowers are purple, blue, white, yellow or orange.

Does German iris tolerate shade?

No, it needs full sun.

How much space does German iris need?

At maturity 0.3–0.6 m wide and 0.6–0.9 m tall; recommended spacing 40 cm.

Iris leaf spot — what can you do?

At the end of the year, remove leaf debris. Pull off lightly affected leaves, but do not strip too many.

Rhizome rot — what can you do?

Plant rhizomes partly exposed in free-draining soil. Cut out small affected areas with a disinfected knife and let them dry.

Sources (17) Checked 28 September 2026

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