Dwarf Iris 'Katharine Hodgkin'

Silver standards and falls smothered in lilac and splashed with gold. Dwarf Iris ‘Katharine Hodgkin’ is a good bulb for naturalising and will increase at a steady rate in the right conditions. One or two bulbs will bloom each season and are surrounded by narrow, upright foliage that elongates once the blooms fade.

Iris ‘Katharine Hodgkin’ holds the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit for its reliability and hardiness. It is a cross of Iris histrioides (soft blue) and I. winogradowii (soft yellow) and you can see both of these shining through.

Reticulata Iris flower early in the spring bulb season, with the Crocus, from late winter to early spring. Their name, reticulata refers to the outer layer of the bulb that looks like a net, and they are sometimes referred to as Netted Iris. The bulbs are small, so if you are leaving them to naturalise in the garden ensure you mark their spot so you don’t lose them!

Plant Iris ‘Katharine Hodgkin’ in a sunny spot in well drained soil. They prefer neutral to alkaline soils and like to be relatively dry summer dormancy.

Plant them 5-8cm deep in a pot, rockery or bed. They are best planted in clumps and the blooms last a few days opening and closing with the light.