Northwest Blooms · Irises
Iris 'Table for Two'
Table for Two Iris
- Height
- 3 feet
- Width
- 1 to 1 1/2 feet
- Flower color
- Bronze-brown, violet and dark burgundy-red with yellow beards
- Foliage color
- Medium green, upright, sword-shaped foliage
- Bloom time
- Very early season
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate; drought tolerant once established
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 8
About this plant
Iris 'Table for Two' is a tall bearded iris with heavily ruffled flowers that appear very early in the iris season. The standards blend warm bronze-brown with violet through the center, while the falls deepen dramatically to a velvety, nearly black burgundy-red. A small white flare surrounds the bright yellow beards, creating a crisp focal point against the dark lower petals. Upright, sword-shaped green foliage forms sturdy fans beneath the flowering stems.
Introduced in 2016 by Schreiner's Gardens, 'Table for Two' received an American Iris Society Honorable Mention in 2018 and Award of Merit in 2021. Its unusually early bloom season and dark, warm coloring make it useful for extending the iris display, particularly in mixed borders and iris beds where its rich flowers can provide depth among paler spring blooms.
Works well in
Borders · Cut Flower Gardens · Formal Gardens · Foundation Plantings · Waterwise Gardens
Companion plants
Dwarf barberry · Rockrose · Blue false indigo · Golden yarrow · Beardtongue · Silver sage · Ice plant
Design tip
Place 'Table for Two' where morning or late-afternoon light can catch the warm bronze standards without diminishing the dark falls. Its near-black lower petals are especially effective beside pale paving or gravel, which provides contrast even when surrounding plants are not flowering.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Schreiner’s Iris Gardens.
