Northwest Blooms · Irises
Iris 'Penny Lane'
Penny Lane Iris
- Height
- 34 inches
- Width
- 1 to 1 1/2 feet
- Flower color
- Golden yellow standards with rich orange falls
- 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 'Penny Lane' is a tall bearded iris with large, ruffled flowers that bloom in midseason. Warm golden-yellow standards rise above rich orange falls that deepen slightly toward their outer edges, creating a glowing two-tone effect. Tangerine beards reinforce the warm coloring, while lightly laced petal edges add texture. The flowers have a slight sweet fragrance. Upright, sword-shaped green foliage forms tidy fans beneath the flowering stems.
Introduced in 1999 by hybridizer Larry Lauer, 'Penny Lane' received the Franklin Cook Memorial Cup in 2000, followed by an American Iris Society Honorable Mention in 2001 and Award of Merit in 2003. Its saturated yellow and orange coloring makes it particularly effective for bringing warmth to sunny borders and mixed perennial plantings.
Works well in
Cottage Gardens · Borders · Cut Flower Gardens · Mediterranean Gardens · Waterwise Gardens
Companion plants
Dwarf bluebeard · Rockrose · Purple coneflower · Blue flax · Globe thistle · Silver artemisia · Creeping savory
Design tip
Use 'Penny Lane' to warm an area dominated by blue, violet, or silvery foliage rather than surrounding it with additional yellows and oranges. Its golden standards and deeper falls provide enough warmth to create a focal point without needing a large grouping.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Schreiner's Iris Gardens.
