15 Stunning Purple Iris Cultivars for Your Flowerbeds

If you find yourself drawn to purple plants in nurseries and on the internet, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most sought-after flower colors for the ornamental garden as well as one of the most common flower colors experienced in nature.

If you find yourself drawn to both the color purple and to iris flowers, you’re really in luck. The genus is extensive, with over 300 species, and there are hundreds of purple iris cultivars on the market today. 

This stately bearded iris features upright, ruffly standards in a hue of lavender with slightly darker veins. Falls are significantly darker in a rich plum color with lavender edges.

Beards are golden yellow toward with throat but transition to dark purple as they extend down the falls. 

A prolific bloomer with 8-10 flowers opening along each stem, Dangerous Liaison graces the garden for a particularly long time in mid to late spring.

Flowers are substantial and relatively large at 5 inches wide while foliage is thick, bright green, and sword-shaped. Prefers loamy to sandy, well-drained soil and lots of sunlight.

‘Autumn Tryst’

	botanical name Iris germanica ‘Autumn Tryst’
	plant type Perennial, rhizome
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 2-3 feet
	hardiness zones 3-10

A member of the Tall Bearded category, this sweet iris features delicate scalloped petals with creamy bases that are feathered with violet. Standards have a richer coloring than the falls, and beards are pale yellow. Veining is subtle at the midribs and heavy at petal perimeters. 

As a reblooming iris, ‘Autumn Tryst’ will open first in early summer and again later in the season. It has a light, sweet fragrance and long, strappy leaves that are blue-green in color.

Though it requires full sun in order to flower fully, this cultivar will enjoy some relief from the hot afternoon sun, especially in zones with warmer summer temperatures. 

Blooms usually last for a couple of weeks. If you’d like to bring some inside to display in a vase, cut stems when the bottom buds have turned purple and are just about to open. Change water every few days and do not place in direct sunlight.

‘Scent Sational’

	botanical name Iris reticulata ‘Scent Sational’
	plant type Perennial, bulb
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 4-8 inches
	hardiness zones 5-8

A dwarf iris with a petite stature but a relatively large flower size, this cultivar maxes out at 8 inches tall. Petals are slender and smooth-edged with little overlap.

Standards are mostly solid while falls have a white central blotch and purple freckles with a prominent yellow stripe. As evidenced by its given name, ‘Scent Sational’ has a strong fragrance that can be appreciated from a good distance.

As a bulb iris, this cultivar produces 1-2 flowers per plant and grows well around tree roots and rocks. It mixes in nicely with other spring bloomers like daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips in colors of bold red and yellow.

Leaves are grass like and somewhat sparse. Since they will turn yellow and flop by midsummer, choose a location where they will be covered by other plants as the season progresses.

‘Best Bet’

	botanical name Iris germanica ‘Best Bet’
	plant type Perennial, rhizome
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-3 feet
	hardiness zones 3-9

This tall, dramatic iris features extra large, ruffled blooms that open in early spring. As a repeat bloomer, it will flower again later in the season for a joyful second showing. Standards are pale lavender and scalloped at the edges, significantly smaller than the falls and stiffly incurved. 

Falls are violet to cobalt in color and have loose ruffles with a down-drooping habit. Beards are relatively small and vary in hue from pale yellow to purple.

Leaves and stems are strong and upright with a sage green color. Since blooms are heavy, ‘Best Bet’ might need staking in locations with high winds or heavy rains.

‘Earl of Essex’

	botanical name Iris germanica ‘Earl of Essex’
	plant type Perennial, rhizome
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 2-3 feet
	hardiness zones 3-10

Blooms are predominantly white with purple accents on this Tall Bearded cultivar. Standard petals are firm and upright with modest ruffling and prominent purple veining at the margins and midribs.

Falls are stippled with substantial veins and beards that are orange to golden yellow in color. Leaves are true green, and sword shaped. 

Earl is extremely drought-tolerant and unattractive to deer and rabbits. Use in the rear border of a perennial border with daisies and shrub roses for a casual cottage garden vibe, or work it into the cutting garden.

As a rebloomer, this cultivar will flower again once in cooler parts of the map and twice in regions with longer seasons. 

‘Black Gamecock’

	botanical name Iris louisiana ‘Black Gamecock’
	plant type Perennial, rhizome
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 2-3 feet
	hardiness zones 4-10

This beardless, Louisiana iris is native to the boggy wetlands and prefers very moist soil. It will even tolerate standing water during the period in which it is actively growing. Flowers are 4-6 inches wide on average, floating atop chartreuse leaves and stems that provide a striking contrast to their rich, dark hue. 

Petals are velvety and smooth, with little ruffling. The bloom color is dark purple and transitions at the midrib to a lighter, more violet color at the margins. Veining is subtle and blurred from a distance. Standards are small, slender, and burgundy red. 

‘Black Gamecock’ is a good choice for naturalizing wet locations along creeks or in low landscape areas prone to flooding, as it does spread easily through rhizomes. If you’d like to have more control over it, plant this one in a pot and sink it in the desired location. This will prevent its rhizomes from running. 

‘Magic Opal’

	botanical name Iris ensata ‘Magic Opal’
	plant type Perennial, rhizome
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 2-3 feet
	hardiness zones 4-9

This graceful Japanese iris boasts 8-inch flowers that are pale lilac in color with a hint of pink. Standard petals are small and mostly out-curved but with a slight upturn at the ends.

Centers are lilac to white in color, while margins and tips have deeper tones of purple. Falls petals are wide, thin, and delicate, drooping downward to reveal bright yellow throats rimmed with dark veins. 

Leaves are strappy and pale green with a prominent midrib that gives them visual interest long after blooming has ended. Plant Magic Opal in the landscape as if it were an ornamental grass and its beautiful blooms will just be a bonus! 

‘Professor Blaauw’

	botanical name Iris hollandica ‘Professor Blaauw’
	plant type Perennial, bulb
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-2 feet
	hardiness zones 6-9

A graceful Dutch iris with bold, delicately veined, violet blooms and grass-like foliage, ‘Professor Blaauw’ is a standout in any landscape. Standard petals are narrow and curl back from the egg-shaped falls to reveal a bright yellow throat that’s particularly attractive to pollinators. 

Plant ‘Professor Blaauw’ in large groups for a natural effect, or pop some into a container on the patio. While this cultivar does require full sun in order to flower prolifically, it will benefit from a little shade in the late afternoon.

As a bulbous perennial, it will spread belowground by bulblets and should be divided every three years or so to prevent crowding. 

‘Dusky Challenger’

	botanical name Iris germanica ‘Dusky Challenger’
	plant type Perennial, rhizome
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-4 feet
	hardiness zones 4-9

A gentle giant with 8-inch, ruffled blooms and a 3-4 foot stature, ‘Dusky Challenger’ is best known for giving off a strong chocolate scent in the garden.

Petals are silky and a deep grape color. Subtle veining and a matching beard give flowers a solid, monochrome appearance when viewed from a distance. 

This cultivar’s stems are sturdy, and its sword-like leaves will remain upright and green long into the fall. You can expect 8-12 flowers per stem and a blooming period that lasts at least two to three weeks.

Fill a tall, heavy vase with water and bring some of these beauties inside for a sweet-smelling display that’ll delight the senses. 

‘Gypsy Romance’

	botanical name Iris germanica ‘Gypsy Romance’
	plant type Perennial, rhizome
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-4 feet
	hardiness zones 3-9

This stately German iris is a member of the Tall Bearded category, reaching heights of up to 4 feet in rear borders and along fences. Flowers are mostly solid and violet to mulberry in color, with a perfectly structured head featuring uniformly ruffled petals.

Standards are firm and tightly arranged atop falls that have subtle veining and prominent, wine-colored beards.

Prized for having a very long bloom period and buds that open sequentially over the course of a few weeks, ‘Gypsy Romance’ pairs well with smaller flowers in hues of golden yellow and orange. Leaves are upright and strong. Larger specimens should be staked or loosely affixed to a garden structure. 

‘Spot On’

	botanical name Iris reticulata ‘Spot On’
	plant type Perennial, bulb
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 4-6 inches
	hardiness zones 5-8

This dainty dwarf iris maxes out at 6 inches tall. Flowers are a rich grape color and relatively large for their diminutive stature. Standard petals are narrow and upstanding with some soft veining and incurved tips. Falls petals feature a central white splotch with a yellow flash and dark purple freckles. 

Foliage is grayish-green, grass like, and finely textured. ‘Spot On’ looks at home in a border front or rock garden and mixes in well with other early spring bloomers like snowdrops, daffodils, and hyacinths.

It can also be grown in a patio pot or front porch container as long as the soil drains well and there is ample sunshine. 

‘Lion King’

	botanical name Iris ensata ‘Lion King’
	plant type Perennial, rhizome
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-4 feet
	hardiness zones 4-9

Flowers are fully double and 7-8 inches wide on this exotic Japanese iris. Resembling a lion’s mane with intense ruffling and a broad form, Lion King’s blooms have small white standard petals that are tipped with violet-purple and large falls that have white splotches and veining. Signals are a golden yellow and extend out over the midrib.  

‘Lion’s King’ appreciates wet soil during the season but requires dry roots during dormancy, so it works best in an area near water that rises during spring and summer. Averaging 3 buds per stem, this cultivar also makes a showy cut flower and can last a long time in water that’s changed regularly.

‘Obsidian’

	botanical name Iris germanica ‘Obsidian’
	plant type Perennial, rhizome
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-3 feet
	hardiness zones 3-9

With inky purple blooms that read black in low light, ‘Obsidian’ lends drama and depth to the landscape wherever it is planted. Both standard petals and falls are neatly ruffled and veined with a slightly lighter hue. Falls have a velvety texture and prominent beards that are also slightly lighter in color. 

Leaves are thick and sturdy, lasting well after flowering is complete and holding space in the garden. Plant Obisidian with other moody hues or contrast with whites and creams for an interesting night garden effect. Divide every 3-4 years to prevent crowding and reduced bloom quality. 

‘Victoria Falls’

	botanical name Iris germanica ‘Victoria Falls’
	plant type Perennial, rhizome
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 3-4 feet
	hardiness zones 4-9

Producing up to 14 flowers on each plant, ‘Victoria Falls’ has firm upright standards in a shade of pale lavender and three cascading falls with scalloped edges that mimic the flow of water. Buttercream beards and midribs lend soft texture and mimic cresting waves. 

As a member of the Tall Bearded category, ‘Victoria Falls’ is sturdy and upright with wide, blue-green foliage. As a reblooming variety, it flowers again toward the end of the season when many other perennials are preparing to enter dormancy. 

‘Harmony’

	botanical name Iris reticulata ‘Harmony’
	plant type Perennial, bulb
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 4-5 inches
	hardiness zones 5-8

This sweet little iris is among the first perennials to bloom in early, early spring. Maxing out at 5 inches tall, it is often mistaken for a crocus from a distance.

But up close, you’ll see it’s distinctly an iris. With flowers that read indigo to violet, standard petals are lighter than the falls, which have darker tips and white splotching with yellow signals. 

Leaves are thin and grass-like with a slight incurve and an upright habit. This makes ‘Harmony’ an obvious choice for the border front, but it also mixes in well with other spring bloomers like tulips and daffodils. All dwarf irises spread through bulblets underground and should be divided every few years.