Northwest Blooms · Irises
Iris 'Main Street'
Main Street Iris
- Height
- 3 feet
- Width
- 1 1/2 to 2 feet
- Flower color
- Lilac standards with velvety jet-black falls
- Foliage color
- Medium green, upright, sword-shaped foliage
- Bloom time
- Early midseason
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate; drought tolerant once established
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 8
About this plant
Iris 'Main Street' is a tall bearded iris with ruffled, sweetly fragrant flowers that open in early midseason. Soft lavender standards carry deeper purple through their centers and a narrow warm cream edge. Below, velvety near-black falls create a dramatic contrast, with small white markings appearing near the shoulders. Fiery red-orange beards provide a bright accent against the exceptionally dark lower petals. Upright, sword-shaped green foliage forms tidy fans beneath the flowering stems.
Introduced in 2009 by hybridizer Larry Lauer, 'Main Street' received an American Iris Society Honorable Mention in 2011. Its combination of pale lavender and nearly black makes it an excellent focal point in sunny borders, cottage gardens, and dedicated iris beds.
Works well in
Cottage Gardens · Borders · Cut Flower Gardens · Walkways · Waterwise Gardens
Companion plants
Dwarf lilac · Cinquefoil · Bee balm · Goldenrod · Blue flax · Dusty miller · Creeping phlox
Design tip
Use 'Main Street' where its nearly black falls can be viewed against a lighter background rather than disappearing into shadows. Pale foliage, light stone, or softly colored flowers nearby will sharpen its outline, while repeating touches of lavender elsewhere helps connect the planting naturally.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Schreiner's Iris Gardens.
