Iris versicolor – Gerald Darby

This striking water‑loving iris, Iris × robusta ‘Gerald Darby’, is a natural hybrid of native Iris versicolor and Iris virginica, bred in North America. In early spring, striking purple‑tinted leaves emerge, later maturing to green as deep purple flower stems develop. The blossoms are dramatic violet‑blue flags with bright yellow “signals” on dark purple stalks, opening in late May through early June. A clump-forming, easy-care perennial ideal for moist to wet soils—including pond edges or rain gardens—it’s both deer- and rabbit-resistant and non-invasive.