Northwest Blooms · Irises
Iris 'Margin Call'
Margin Call Iris
- Height
- 3 feet
- Width
- 1 to 1 1/2 feet
- Flower color
- Soft yellow, creamy white and rich purple
- 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 'Margin Call' is a tall bearded iris with beautifully patterned flowers that open in midseason. Soft buttery yellow standards rise above creamy white falls framed by broad, rich purple margins that deepen toward the outer edges. Fine purple veining radiates outward from the center, while warm yellow beards show a subtle touch of lavender at their tips. The layered coloring gives each bloom an intricate, almost hand-painted appearance. Upright, sword-shaped green foliage forms tidy fans beneath the flowering stems.
Introduced in 2017 by Keith Keppel, 'Margin Call' received an American Iris Society Honorable Mention in 2019. Its combination of soft yellow, creamy white, and deep purple works beautifully in sunny perennial borders, cottage gardens, and dedicated iris beds, especially where the detailed flowers can be appreciated at close range.
Works well in
Cottage Gardens · Borders · Cut Flower Gardens · Walkways · Waterwise Gardens
Companion plants
Rockrose · Rose · Catmint · Blanket flower · Sea holly · Silver artemisia · Creeping thyme
Design tip
Place 'Margin Call' where its pale centers and deep purple edges can be appreciated from nearby. A simple backdrop of green or silver foliage keeps the intricate flowers from getting lost, while touches of soft yellow elsewhere in the bed subtly connect the planting.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Schreiner's Iris Gardens.
