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Northwest Blooms · Irises

Iris 'Orange King'

Orange King Iris

Iris 'Orange King'
Height
36 inches
Width
1 to 1 1/2 feet
Flower color
Rich orange with bright tangerine 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 'Orange King' is a tall bearded iris with ruffled flowers that bloom in midseason. The standards and falls are a rich, glowing orange, with slightly deeper coloring toward the center and warm golden undertones across the petals. Bright tangerine beards blend naturally into the surrounding color, creating a nearly uniform orange flower. Gentle ruffling along the petal edges adds texture without obscuring its clean form. Upright, sword-shaped green foliage forms tidy fans beneath the flowering stems.

Hybridized by Barry Blyth, 'Orange King' was registered in 2007 and introduced through Tempo Two in 2008. Its saturated orange coloring makes it an effective source of warmth in sunny plantings, particularly when surrounded by contrasting blues, purples, or silvery foliage. The flowers also provide a bold seasonal accent in mixed borders and dedicated iris beds.

Works well in

Mediterranean Gardens · Borders · Cut Flower Gardens · Cottage Gardens · Waterwise Gardens

Companion plants

Bluebeard · Dwarf juniper · Russian sage · Globe thistle · Purple salvia · Silver lamb's ear · Creeping veronica

Design tip

Use 'Orange King' as a concentrated warm accent rather than scattering individual plants throughout a border. A compact grouping creates greater impact, while nearby blue-purple flowers and silver foliage provide enough contrast to make the orange appear even richer.

Where to see it

This plant can be seen at Schreiner's Iris Gardens.