Northwest Blooms · Irises
Iris 'Bright Sunshiny Day'
Bright Sunshiny Day Iris
- Height
- 3 1/2 feet
- Width
- 1 to 1 1/2 feet
- Flower color
- Golden yellow with reddish brown veining and speckling
- Foliage color
- Medium green, upright, sword-shaped foliage
- Bloom time
- Midseason
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate; drought tolerant once established
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 8
About this plant
Iris 'Bright Sunshiny Day' is a tall bearded iris with brilliant golden-yellow flowers that open in midseason. The upright standards are a clear, sunny yellow, while the deeper yellow falls are patterned with reddish brown veining and fine speckling that becomes more concentrated toward the outer portions of the petals. Golden-yellow beards complement the warm coloring, and the flowers carry a noticeable musky fragrance. Upright, sword-shaped green foliage forms tidy fans beneath the flowering stems.
Introduced in 2010 by hybridizer Thomas Johnson through Mid-America Garden, 'Bright Sunshiny Day' received an American Iris Society Honorable Mention in 2012 and Award of Merit in 2015. Its exceptionally bright coloring makes it particularly effective when planted in groups, where the golden flowers can illuminate sunny borders, cottage gardens, and dedicated iris beds.
Works well in
Cottage Gardens · Borders · Cut Flower Gardens · Foundation Plantings · Waterwise Gardens
Companion plants
Bluebeard · Rose · Purple coneflower · Meadow sage · Agastache · Lamb's ear · Creeping thyme
Design tip
Use 'Bright Sunshiny Day' where its clear yellow flowers can act as a visual anchor in a sunny border. Repeating small clumps at intervals draws the eye through the planting, while darker foliage nearby helps the intensely bright blooms stand out.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Schreiner’s Iris Gardens.
