Northwest Blooms · Irises
Iris 'Summer Shadow'
Summer Shadow Iris
- Height
- 3 feet
- Width
- 1 1/2 to 2 feet
- Flower color
- Golden yellow with broad warm brownish-rose margins
- 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 'Summer Shadow' is a tall bearded iris with ruffled flowers that open in midseason. Golden-yellow standards rise above matching falls edged broadly in warm brownish rose, with the color softly blending inward toward the yellow centers. Deep golden-yellow beards complement the warm coloring of the blooms. Upright, sword-shaped green foliage forms tidy fans beneath the flowering stems and provides structure throughout the growing season.
Introduced in 2011 by Oregon hybridizer Keith Keppel, 'Summer Shadow' combines rich, earthy coloring with the elegant form of a modern tall bearded iris. Its golden and rose-brown tones work beautifully in sunny perennial borders, cottage gardens, and dedicated iris beds. Plant it where the warm flowers can mingle with spring perennials, repeat several clumps through a border, or grow it for cutting and seasonal arrangements.
Works well in
Cottage Gardens · Borders · Cut Flower Gardens · Walkways · Waterwise Gardens
Companion plants
Ninebark · Rose · Coneflower · Blanket flower · Penstemon · Blue fescue · Stonecrop
Design tip
Use 'Summer Shadow' to warm up a planting dominated by cooler blues, purples, and greens. Its golden and brown-rose coloring makes a useful transition between contrasting sections of a border, especially when the iris is repeated in small groups rather than concentrated in one spot.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Schreiner’s Iris Gardens.
