Northwest Blooms · Irises
Iris 'Fiesta in Blue'
Fiesta in Blue Iris
- Height
- 40 inches
- Width
- 1 to 1 1/2 feet
- Flower color
- Medium cornflower blue with white and yellow beards
- 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 'Fiesta in Blue' is a tall bearded iris with large, generously ruffled flowers that bloom in midseason. The standards and falls are a clear cornflower blue, creating an unusually consistent wash of color across the entire flower. White beards, touched with yellow deeper in the throat, provide a small point of contrast without distracting from the blue petals. Upright, sword-shaped green foliage forms sturdy fans beneath the flowering stems.
Introduced by Schreiner's Gardens in 2002, 'Fiesta in Blue' received an American Iris Society Honorable Mention in 2004. Its clear blue coloring and substantial 40-inch stature give it a strong presence in the garden without relying on contrasting petal colors. It is particularly effective for establishing cool areas within sunny borders or providing a counterpoint to yellow, apricot, and cream flowers.
Works well in
Borders · Cut Flower Gardens · Cottage Gardens · Walkways · Foundation Plantings
Companion plants
Dwarf barberry · Shrubby cinquefoil · Golden yarrow · Red valerian · White gaura · Prairie dropseed · Creeping germander
Design tip
Use several 'Fiesta in Blue' plants as a concentrated patch of color rather than scattering individual rhizomes throughout the garden. A larger grouping emphasizes its unusually consistent blue flowers and creates a cool resting point among more complex or warmer-colored plantings.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Schreiner's Iris Gardens.
