Northwest Blooms · Irises
Iris 'Haunted Heart'
Haunted Heart Iris
- Height
- 3 feet
- Width
- 1 1/2 to 2 feet
- Flower color
- Pinkish grey-white with heliotrope and violet veining
- 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 'Haunted Heart' is a tall bearded iris with heavily ruffled, lightly laced flowers opening in midseason. Pale pinkish grey-white standards rise above softly colored falls with a similar pale ground, heavily overlaid and finely veined in heliotrope grey and lobelia violet. Light shrimp-pink beards fade to pale blue at the tips, adding another subtle layer of color. Upright, sword-shaped green foliage forms tidy fans beneath the flowering stems.
Introduced in 2010 by American hybridizer Keith Keppel, 'Haunted Heart' became an especially celebrated modern tall bearded iris, receiving the American Dykes Medal in 2018. Its smoky, sophisticated coloring suits cottage gardens, perennial borders, and dedicated iris beds. Plant it near walkways where its intricate veining can be appreciated up close or include it in cutting gardens for elegant spring arrangements.
Works well in
Cottage Gardens · Borders · Cut Flower Gardens · Walkways · Waterwise Gardens
Companion plants
California lilac · Rose · Delphinium · Garden sage · Shasta daisy · Sea thrift · Stonecrop
Design tip
Give 'Haunted Heart' a position where its subtle coloring can be viewed at close range rather than from across the garden. A backdrop of simple green foliage or pale stone helps define the intricate veining while allowing the smoky flower tones to remain the focus.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Schreiner’s Iris Gardens.