Iris x robusta 'Dark Aura' AGM

Date Introduced
not known

Introduced by
Shropshire Group

Reason for Inclusion
Jennifer Hewitt purchased in 1979 (supplier unknown). She introduced it to cultivation originally registered as Iris virginica ‘De Luxe’ in 1987 with American Iris Society. That name was found to be invalid according to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP) and was renamed and registered as x robusta ‘Dark Aura’ in 1996. Awarded RHS AGM in 2005.

Verification
British Iris Society

Brief description of plant
Rhizomatous herbaceous perennial. Iris x robusta are natural hybrids of I. versicolor and I. virginica.

Height x Spread
100cm x 50cm

Flowers
Dark purple stems to 90cm carry a number of small flowers. Standards are cupped, erect, violet. Falls are drooping, violet, with a yellow, white-edged signal.

Foliage
Narrow leaves, dark red in spring, becoming green with a purple tinge at the base.

Flowering Time
May - June

Soil type
Neutral to acid moisture retentive soil.

Aspect
Full sun or part-shade

Pests and diseases
Generally no problems.

Cultivation
Needs moisture - good for marginal or bog garden planting.

Propagation
Divide rhizomes after flowering, leaving 2 or 3 leaf fans per division.