Northwest Blooms · Irises
Iris 'Orange King'
Orange King Iris

- 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.
