Northwest Blooms · Irises
Iris 'Merchant Marine'
Merchant Marine Iris
- Height
- 38 inches
- Width
- 1 to 1 1/2 feet
- Flower color
- Medium marine blue with pale blue 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 'Merchant Marine' is a tall bearded iris with large, heavily ruffled flowers that bloom in midseason. The standards are a rich medium blue, while the broad falls deepen slightly to a more saturated marine blue, creating subtle tonal contrast across the flower. Pale blue beards blend quietly into the petals, with a small touch of yellow deep in the throat. The substantial blooms are carried on well-branched stems above upright, sword-shaped green foliage.
Hybridized by Keith Keppel, 'Merchant Marine' was registered in 2006 and introduced in 2007. It received an American Iris Society Honorable Mention in 2009 and Award of Merit in 2011. Its remarkably consistent blue coloring and generous ruffling give it a strong presence in sunny borders, where it pairs easily with both pale flowers and contrasting warm colors.
Works well in
Formal Gardens · Borders · Cut Flower Gardens · Walkways · Foundation Plantings
Companion plants
Dwarf golden barberry · Shrub cinquefoil · White peony · Yellow columbine · White gaura · Silver sage · Creeping baby's breath
Design tip
Use 'Merchant Marine' in repeated clumps to carry a consistent blue note through a long border. Its saturated coloring is strong enough to establish rhythm from a distance, while pale stone, cream flowers, or golden foliage can keep the planting feeling bright.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Schreiner's Iris Gardens.
