‘Harmony’ is a dwarf iris cultivar of a reticulated iris, an erect, perennial bulb in the Iridaceae (iris) family. It is 5 to 6 inches tall and 4 inches wide. The genus name Iris is shared by the Greek goddess of the rainbow, and is perhaps a nod to the wide variety of colors of flowers found in this genus. This iris grows best in full sun to partial shade. The fruit is a capsule, but as most irises, this plant reproduces better by division. The reticulate patterned bulbs divide into bulblets (offshoots) after blooms have faded and may be separated and replanted. When planting, bury bulbs to a depth of 5 inches to the base and space 1 inch apart with 40 to 80 bulbs per square foot. It tolerates summer drought but should be kept moist during the growing season. It is also deer tolerant and is less susceptible to the fungal, bacterial, and iris borer problems of other iris. This dwarf iris is good for use in borders, along walkways, ponds, and in rock gardens, and in riparian, naturalized, or woodland areas in mass plantings. It is often grown in containers to force early flowering. It is sometimes offered as a florist plant. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Watch for slugs and snails VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Iris .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 4 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Sheath; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Strap-like, overlapping at base, oriented in one plane. They can get up to a foot long.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Showy
Flower detail
1 flower at the top of a naked stem, 6-parted with 3 outer, spreading or pendent "falls" and 3 inner, erect "standards", variously colored; blooms in early spring (March)
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Capsule
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
East Turkey to Iran
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Naturalized Area; Pond; Riparian; Small Space; Walkways; Woodland
Landscape theme
Rock Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#drought tolerant #poisonous #lavender flowers #blue flowers #mass planting #flowers early spring #small spaces #spring flowering bulbs #bulb #ebh #ebh-g #problem for dogs #problem for cats #problem for horses #winter interest #winter flowers #container plant #courtyard garden #stream banks #pond margins #showy flowers #rock garden #border front #naturalized area #disease resistant #dwarf #purple flowers #insect resistant #fragrant flowers #deer resistant #woodland #walkway #contact dermatitis
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Slugs and Snails Found on Flowers and Foliage
Problems
Contact Dermatitis; Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Black Walnut; Deer; Drought
Propagation
Division
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Roots; Sap/Juice; Seeds
Poison symptoms
CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR, OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Nausea, salivation, vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, diarrhea, elevated temperature following ingestion; skin irritation upon contact with seeds, rootstock, or cell sap.
Toxic principle
Pentacylic terpenoids (zeorin, missourin and missouriensin), Irisin, iridin, or irisine