Tall Bearded Iris 'Sable Night' (Iris 'Sable Night')

Tall bearded iris 'Sable Night' is a historic cultivar (Cook, 1950) with deep, velvety purple-black standards and falls—a near-black iris. A member of the Iridaceae family, it's a dramatic, late-spring bloomer.

Description

Rhizomatous perennial 28–36 inches tall. Fans of sword-shaped, gray-green leaves. Flower stems branched, 3–5 buds. Flowers are large, deep purple-black with a slight violet sheen, black beard. Blooms late spring (May–June). Fragrant.

Growing Conditions

• Zones: 3–9.
• Light: Full sun (6+ hours).
• Soil: Well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline. Rhizomes at surface.
• Water: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established.
• Planting: Plant rhizomes at soil surface, 12–18 inches apart in late summer.

Care & Maintenance

Divide every 3–4 years in late summer. Remove spent stalks. Fertilize early spring and after bloom. Keep rhizomes exposed. Mulch lightly in winter.

Uses

Perennial borders, iris beds, cut flowers. Dramatic dark accent.

Potential Issues

Iris borer, bacterial soft rot, leaf spot. Rhizome rot in wet soil. Full sun essential.

A velvety midnight bloom that anchors the late spring garden in darkness.