Northwest Blooms · Irises
Iris 'Elderberry Mead'
Elderberry Mead Iris
- Height
- 3 to 3 1/2 feet
- Width
- 1 to 1 1/2 feet
- Flower color
- Golden yellow and dark cherry-purple with yellow-tipped beards
- Foliage color
- Medium green, upright, sword-shaped foliage
- Bloom time
- Early to midseason
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate; drought tolerant once established
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 8
About this plant
Iris 'Elderberry Mead' is a tall bearded iris with richly colored, lightly fragrant flowers that open from early to midseason. Warm golden-yellow standards rise above velvety, dark cherry-purple falls, creating a dramatic contrast between the upper and lower petals. A fine darker outline gives the standards added definition, while pale beards tipped in yellow brighten the center of each bloom. Upright, sword-shaped green foliage forms tidy fans beneath the flowering stems.
Registered in 2023 by Schreiner's Gardens, 'Elderberry Mead' combines deep berry tones with warm gold for an especially rich spring display. Its dark falls make it well suited to sunny borders and iris beds where lighter neighboring flowers or foliage can provide contrast, while its warm upper petals allow it to blend naturally with yellows, apricots, and other sunset shades.
Works well in
Cottage Gardens · Borders · Cut Flower Gardens · Mediterranean Gardens · Waterwise Gardens
Companion plants
Dwarf smoke bush · Rockrose · Golden marguerite · Purple toadflax · Sea holly · Silver horehound · Creeping stonecrop
Design tip
Use 'Elderberry Mead' to add depth among paler spring flowers rather than surrounding it with equally dark colors. Its deep berry falls create a strong visual pause, while the golden standards keep the planting connected to nearby yellows, apricots, and warm foliage.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Schreiner’s Iris Gardens.
