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Key characteristics

Classification: Tall Bearded Iris (TB), Bicolor
Height: 3 to 3 1/2 feet
Width: 1 to 1 1/2 feet
Flower color: Golden yellow and dark cherry-purple with yellow-tipped beards
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

Irises

Iris 'Elderberry Mead'

Elderberry Mead Iris

Iris 'Elderberry Mead' is a tall bearded iris with richly colored, lightly fragrant flowers that open from early to midseason. Warm golden-yellow standards rise above velvety, dark cherry-purple falls, creating a dramatic contrast between the upper and lower petals. A fine darker outline gives the standards added definition, while pale beards tipped in yellow brighten the center of each bloom. Upright, sword-shaped green foliage forms tidy fans beneath the flowering stems.

Light

Full sun

Water

Moderate; drought tolerant once established

Bloom time

Early to midseason

Find this plant

Works well in

Cottage Gardens
Borders
Cut Flower Gardens
Mediterranean Gardens
Waterwise Gardens

Companion plants

Dwarf smoke bush · Rockrose · Golden marguerite · Purple toadflax · Sea holly · Silver horehound · Creeping stonecrop

Design tip

Use 'Elderberry Mead' to add depth among paler spring flowers rather than surrounding it with equally dark colors. Its deep berry falls create a strong visual pause, while the golden standards keep the planting connected to nearby yellows, apricots, and warm foliage.