Northwest Blooms · Irises
Iris 'All Night Long'
All Night Long Iris
- Height
- 31 inches
- Width
- 1 to 1 1/2 feet
- Flower color
- Deep purple-black with dark purple and violet beards
- Foliage color
- Medium green, upright, sword-shaped foliage
- Bloom time
- Late season
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate, drought tolerant once established
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 8
About this plant
Iris 'All Night Long' is a tall bearded iris with heavily ruffled flowers that bloom late in the iris season. The standards and falls are an exceptionally deep purple-black, creating an almost uniform dark flower, with the velvety falls appearing especially intense. Dark purple beards soften to violet toward their centers, while a slight lacy fringe adds detail to the style crests. The flowers have a light, sweet fragrance. Upright, sword-shaped green foliage forms tidy fans beneath the flowering stems.
Hybridized by Roger Duncan, 'All Night Long' was registered in 2004 and introduced by Superstition Iris Gardens in 2005. It received an American Iris Society Honorable Mention in 2007 and Award of Merit in 2009. Its dark coloring and late bloom make it useful for extending the iris display while adding depth and contrast among paler flowers.
Works well in
Formal Gardens · Borders · Cut Flower Gardens · Walkways · Cottage Gardens
Companion plants
Dwarf golden barberry · Spirea · White peony · Yellow columbine · Silver artemisia · White candytuft · Creeping Jenny
Design tip
Give 'All Night Long' a light backdrop so its nearly black flowers remain clearly outlined rather than disappearing into surrounding foliage. Pale stone, cream flowers, or golden leaves nearby can emphasize its deep purple undertones while keeping the composition balanced.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Schreiner's Iris Gardens.
