Plant types

Plant styles

Planting conditions

Seasonal interest

Nurseries & Gardens

Photo by A. Barra

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

Show all photos

Iris tuberosa

Also Known As

Hermodactylis tuberosus
Black Iris
Snake's Head
Snake's Head Iris
Velvet Flower-de-Luce
Widow Iris

Plant type

perennial, bulb / corm / tuber

size

H: 12"-18"
W: 6"-12"

planting zones

7a-10b

More Options

Iris tuberosa plant details

Iris tuberosa is a broadleaf deciduous perennial bulb / corm / tuber with green foliage. In spring and winter black, chocolate, green, purple and yellow flowers emerge. Features grassy texture. Attracts bees and beneficial insects making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly sun and regular - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer, dry when dormant. Does well in average, gritty, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Iris tuberosa

Plant type: perennial bulb / corm / tuber
Plant family: iridaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 6 IN - 12 IN - wide, 12 IN - 18 IN - tall
Flowers: black, chocolate, green, purple and yellow blooms in spring and winter
Uses: cutting garden, easy-to-grow, edging plant, exotic, fragrant, rock garden

GROWING CONDITIONS for Iris tuberosa

USDA Zones: 7a - 10b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly sun
Watering frequency: regular - low
Resistant to: deer and rabbit, heat and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: average, gritty, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Wonderfully exotic, wonderfully fragrant, late winter flowering irid from the Mediterranean regions in unique colors of beige and purple blue. To 12-18" tall. Rhizomatous and forming colonies that love sun and gritty soil. Seemingly, the more extreme the climate, the better. Though this irid would hate hothouse conditions, it has grown and flowered profusely adjacent to a heat loving tuberose. Frost hardy in USDA zone 6.

By: Cistus Nursery

Formerly known as Hermodactylus, this unusual & interesting Iris is native to the Mediterranean & valuable for its early bloom time – February & March – before many a Spring garden starts pumping. Held atop 12-18” stems & grassy foliage, alluring 3” flowers display lime green standards & gently curving, almost black, velvety falls. Tolerates clayish soil but will grow rapidly in well-draining soil. When happy, it forms colonies that can be easily divided & shared. Impressive in containers. Reduce water during Summer dormancy!

By: Annie's Annuals & Perennials

Snakes Head Iris, strangely beautiful with apple green and velvety black iris-like flowers, it's a monotypic species from the Med. region and a favorite of mine.