Northwest Blooms · Irises
Iris 'Oui Madame'
Oui Madame Iris
- Height
- 35 inches
- Width
- 1 to 1 1/2 feet
- Flower color
- Lavender and silvery white with orange-red 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 'Oui Madame' is a tall bearded iris with large, softly ruffled flowers that bloom in midseason. The standards are a luminous lavender with subtle pink undertones, while the broad falls open nearly white at the center and gradually deepen to lavender toward their rippled edges. Brilliant orange-red beards create a vivid contrast against the cool pastel petals and are especially noticeable from the side. Upright, sword-shaped green foliage forms tidy fans beneath the flowering stems.
Hybridized by Barry Blyth, 'Oui Madame' was registered in 2012 and introduced through Tempo Two in the 2012 to 2013 season. Its combination of lavender, silvery white, and fiery beards gives the flowers both softness and definition. The pale falls brighten mixed plantings, while the lavender edges connect naturally with blue, purple, and pink flowers in sunny perennial borders.
Works well in
Cottage Gardens · Borders · Cut Flower Gardens · Walkways · Formal Gardens
Companion plants
Dwarf mock orange · Shrub cinquefoil · White peony · Blue flax · Coral bells · Silver sage · Creeping baby's breath
Design tip
Position 'Oui Madame' where morning or late-afternoon light can illuminate the nearly white centers of its falls. The pale petals appear especially luminous in softer light, while their lavender edges preserve enough definition to keep individual flowers distinct within a larger planting.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Schreiner's Iris Gardens.
