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Perennial · Iridaceae family

Siberian iris

Iris sibirica

Full sun to part shade 1 ft 11⅝ in–3 ft 11¼ in × 1 ft 11⅝ in–2 ft 11⅜ in Flowers May–June to −99 °F
Flower colors Click a color

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun to part shade
Size1 ft 11⅝ in–3 ft 11¼ in
spacing 16¼ in
FlowersMay–June
PlantingApril–May, September–October
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil.

Sun

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

Soil

acidic to neutral soil
acidicneutralalkaline
average to moistnot fussy about soil

Watering

do not waterlogkeep the soil evenly moistless when it rains

Frost

−99 °F
no winter protectiondies back in winter, regrows in spring

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (69 in).

19¾ in3 ft 3⅜ in4 ft 11 in1 ft 11⅝ in–3 ft 11¼ inspread 1 ft 11⅝ in–2 ft 11⅜ in
1 ft 11⅝ in–3 ft 11¼ in× spread 1 ft 11⅝ in–2 ft 11⅜ in

Plant 16¼ in 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.

Typical for a temperate climate (four seasons). 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: a good time for planting (container plant).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

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

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: April–May, September–October

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

March–May

What to plant now (October) full list in October (243) →

Feeding

Nutrition.

Light
balanced fertilizercompost or mulch
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

Gray mold

Botrytis cinerea
Medium riskdiseasesource covers the whole genus
More about this problem

What you will see

Gray-brown fuzzy coating and soft rot on dead and damaged parts, especially in damp weather.

The source says: it is among the perennials susceptible to gray mold.

When to look

All year

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Improve ventilation; do not plant too densely.
    • Remove dead leaves and flowers and do not leave them lying.
  2. By hand as soon as noticedRemove and destroy affected parts.
Gray molddisease · all yearMedium risk

What you will see

Gray-brown fuzzy coating and soft rot on dead and damaged parts, especially in damp weather.

The source says: it is among the perennials susceptible to gray mold.

When to look

All year

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Improve ventilation; do not plant too densely.
    • Remove dead leaves and flowers and do not leave them lying.
  2. By hand as soon as noticedRemove and destroy affected parts.
More about this problem
Slugs and snails

Slugs and snails

pestsource covers the whole genus
More about this problem

What you will see

Eaten holes in leaves and young shoots, at night and in damp weather.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Water in the morning, not in the evening.
    • In winter turn over the soil and remove fallen leaves — birds will pick out the eggs.
    • Encourage natural enemies (birds, toads, hedgehogs, ground beetles).
  2. By hand evening, spring to fallCollect slugs and snails in the evening by torchlight on a warm, damp night; traps made of hollowed-out citrus peel or small containers of beer sunk into the soil — empty them in the morning.
  3. Biological spring to early fallPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita nematodes (they work on slugs, hardly on snails); apply to moist soil at 5–68 °F.
Slugs and snailspest

What you will see

Eaten holes in leaves and young shoots, at night and in damp weather.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Water in the morning, not in the evening.
    • In winter turn over the soil and remove fallen leaves — birds will pick out the eggs.
    • Encourage natural enemies (birds, toads, hedgehogs, ground beetles).
  2. By hand evening, spring to fallCollect slugs and snails in the evening by torchlight on a warm, damp night; traps made of hollowed-out citrus peel or small containers of beer sunk into the soil — empty them in the morning.
  3. Biological spring to early fallPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita nematodes (they work on slugs, hardly on snails); apply to moist soil at 5–68 °F.
More about this problem

Rhizome rot

Pectobacterium carotovorum
diseasesource covers the whole genus

What you will see

Slimy rot of the rhizome.

When to look

Mainly in spring and summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Plant in free-draining soil.
  2. By hand summerCut out small affected areas.
Rhizome rotdisease · mainly in spring and summer

What you will see

Slimy rot of the rhizome.

When to look

Mainly in spring and summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Plant in free-draining soil.
  2. By hand summerCut out small affected areas.
Sources (5)

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 garden bed with it already planted.

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does Siberian iris flower?

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

Does Siberian iris tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does Siberian iris need?

At maturity 1 ft 11⅝ in–2 ft 11⅜ in wide and 1 ft 11⅝ in–3 ft 11¼ in tall; recommended spacing 16¼ in.

Slugs and snails — what can you do?

Water in the morning, not in the evening. Collect slugs and snails in the evening by torchlight on a warm, damp night; traps made of hollowed-out citrus peel or small containers of beer sunk into the soil — empty them in the morning.

Rhizome rot — what can you do?

Plant in free-draining soil. Cut out small affected areas.

Sources (21) Checked 24 October 2026

Similar plants

Have a look at these too.

German iris

Iris ×germanica

1 ft 11⅝ in–2 ft 11⅜ in × 11¾ in–1 ft 11⅝ in
Moderate careperennial

garden cosmos

Cosmos bipinnatus

11¾ in–3 ft 11¼ in × 1 ft 11⅝ in–2 ft 11⅜ in
Low maintenanceannual
Design a bed with this plant in Studio