Northwest Blooms · Irises
Iris 'Pirate Ahoy'
Pirate Ahoy Iris
- Height
- 3 feet
- Width
- 1 to 1 1/2 feet
- Flower color
- Lemon yellow and deep burgundy red with gold
- Foliage color
- Medium green, upright, sword-shaped foliage
- Bloom time
- Early to midseason
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate, drought tolerant once established
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 8
About this plant
Iris 'Pirate Ahoy' is a tall bearded iris with bold, ruffled flowers that bloom from early to midseason. Bright lemon-yellow standards rise above deep burgundy-red falls, creating a dramatic two-tone effect. A broad golden-yellow starburst spreads outward from the center of each fall, surrounding prominent gold beards and illuminating the otherwise dark lower petals. Upright, sword-shaped green foliage provides a clean backdrop for the strongly contrasting flowers.
Hybridized by Australian breeder Barry Blyth, 'Pirate Ahoy' was registered in 2005 and introduced through Tempo Two in the 2005 to 2006 season. Its combination of sunny yellow and dark wine-red makes it particularly effective where a strong color accent is needed. The flowers stand out well among green foliage and can bring warmth and depth to mixed perennial borders and other sunny plantings.
Works well in
Borders · Mediterranean Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens · Foundation Plantings · Waterwise Gardens
Companion plants
Spirea · Dwarf mugo pine · Catmint · Blanket flower · Blue fescue · Sedum · Creeping thyme
Design tip
Give 'Pirate Ahoy' enough open space for its strong two-tone flowers to register clearly rather than surrounding it with competing colors. Repeating its golden yellow elsewhere in the border creates continuity, while deep green foliage emphasizes the dark burgundy falls.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Schreiner's Iris Gardens.
