Northwest Blooms · Irises
Iris 'Valentino'
Valentino Iris
- Height
- 36 inches
- Width
- 1 to 1 1/2 feet
- Flower color
- Cardinal red and bronze-red with bright golden beards
- Foliage color
- Medium green, upright, sword-shaped foliage
- Bloom time
- Early to late
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate, drought tolerant once established
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 8
About this plant
Iris 'Valentino' is a tall bearded iris with richly colored, lightly ruffled flowers that can bloom from early through late season. The standards are a warm cardinal red with bronze-red shading through the center and near the base, while the broad falls deepen to a velvety dark red with subtly lighter side edges. Bright golden beards provide a warm contrast at the center, and a narrow gold marking may occasionally extend onto the falls. Upright, sword-shaped green foliage forms substantial fans beneath the flowering stems.
Hybridized by John Painter, 'Valentino' was registered in 2007 and introduced by Napa Country Iris Garden in 2008. It received an American Iris Society Honorable Mention in 2010. Its deep red coloring brings warmth and visual weight to sunny borders, while the bronze undertones and golden beards make it especially easy to combine with gold, cream, plum, and softer yellow flowers.
Works well in
Borders · Cut Flower Gardens · Mediterranean Gardens · Foundation Plantings · Waterwise Gardens
Companion plants
Dwarf golden arborvitae · Rockrose · Cream yarrow · Purple penstemon · Blue eryngium · Silver santolina · Creeping oregano
Design tip
Use 'Valentino' as a deeper color anchor among lighter warm-toned flowers. Its red and bronze coloring works particularly well beside cream and gold, while nearby silver foliage can provide enough separation to keep several richly colored plants from appearing visually heavy.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Schreiner's Iris Gardens.
