Named after an ancient goddess and the Greek word for rainbow, iris flowers come in a whole spectrum of colors. Purple and yellow may be the most common hues in the genus, but you’ll also find this perennial favorite in plenty of other shades, including sunny, vibrant orange.
Irises in this color family are said to represent bravery, excitement, and enthusiasm. In bold shades, they command attention and set a strong tone. In peachy or pastel hues, they play a softer supporting role. Pair them with purples to create contrast in the garden, or plant them alongside reds and yellows to create harmony.
Many species of irises range in height from 6 inches to 4 feet. They vary in hardiness from zone 3 to 10 and can be found in landscapes ranging from formal to cottage to urban. If you’re drawn to the sunny, optimistic personality of orange in the landscape and hope to plant some irises this year, continue reading for a look at 11 varieties guaranteed to lift your spirits.
‘Orange Splash’
The German iris cultivar features large, wide tangerine-colored blooms with ruffled edges and yellow beards.
 | botanical name Iris germanica ‘Orange Splash’ |
|---|---|
 | sun requirements Full sun |
 | height 3 to 4 feet |
 | hardiness zones 4 to 9 |
Flower sizes are up to 6 inches wide on this bearded German iris cultivar! The blooms are large and tangerine-colored, with sheared edges and dramatic ruffling. Its standard petals are firm and upright, while the falls droop downward to reveal sunny yellow beards and throats.
Plant ‘Orange Splash’ behind purple perennials like cranesbill or salvia, and its firm foliage will provide a bright green, textured backdrop. This cultivar lasts long after cutting and can be expected to bloom for roughly 10 days.
‘Penny Lane’
‘Penny Lane’ iris has fan-shaped flowers in rich orange with matching beards.
| | botanical name Iris germanica ‘Penny Lane’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2 to 3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4 to 9 |
This dramatic beauty features 5-inch, fan-shaped flowers with slightly golden falls and rich orange standards with thick matching beards. Blooming initially in mid-spring, ‘Penny Lane’ will flower again once or twice more throughout the season, making it a true “reblooming” iris variety and a very popular cultivar.
Emitting a light scent that attracts pollinators and fills the garden air with a subtle perfume, ‘Penny Lane’ looks beautiful whether placed in large or small groups. Its foliage holds up well throughout the season and resembles an ornamental grass when not in bloom.
‘Copper Iris’
‘Copper Iris’ has 3-inch blooms with colors ranging from terra cotta to brick red with hints of gold.
| | botanical name Iris fulva ‘Copper Iris’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 2 to 3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 6 to 9 |
A go-to iris for low, wet areas or creekside plantings, ‘Copper Iris’ is a flat-topped, beardless iris. It has 3-inch booms with narrow and simple petals with very few frills. Its coloring varies from terra cotta to brick red with hints of gold. The midribs and veining are both a darker shade of orange.
‘Copper Iris’ is particularly attractive to hummingbirds and not favored by deer or rabbits. Its leaves are bright green with a striped texture and provide a sharp contrast to the orange flowers. It will spread liberally if left unchecked, so only plant it where you want it to run.
‘English Charm’
‘English Charm’ is a multi-color iris with fringy, crinkled petals in peach and apricot hues.
| | botanical name Iris germanica ‘English Charm’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 3 to 4 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4 to 9 |
Though technically a multi-color iris, ‘English Charm’ is definitely orange enough to make this list. Its fringy, crinkled upper petals are creamy white on the edges but peachy at the base, while the lower petals are distinctly apricot with darker veining and bright white margins. The beards are small and creamy, emanating from the hollows of a darker, central throat.
Another highly-regarded, reblooming iris variety, ‘English Charm’ will bloom first in mid-spring and again in late fall. Plant in well-drained soil and divide every three years to prevent crowding and diminished bloom production.
‘Cheetah Cheese’
‘Cheetah Cheese’ is a strong, colorful iris with apricot, burgundy, and golden yellow hues.
| | botanical name Iris germanica ‘Cheetah Cheese’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2 to 3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4 to 9 |
Predominantly apricot but flamed with burgundy and golden yellow, ‘Cheetah Cheese’ has a strong personality. Flowers are intensely ruffled, with firmly clasped upper petals and bright orange beards. Leaves are sword-like and firm, with a bright green color. Stems are strong and hold up well in water.
Plant this colorful cultivar where it has room to shine and will not conflict with other flowers. It pairs well with burgundy, yellow, cream, and other shades of orange. Ensure the soil drains well, and use direct irrigation at roots rather than blooms. Remove the spent flower stalks after the show is over, and cut them back completely to the ground in the fall.
‘Orange Harvest’
A tall bearded iris, ‘Orange Harvest’ showcases rich pumpkin-colored flowers with spade-shaped petals.
| | botanical name Iris germanica ‘Orange Harvest’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2 to 3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4 to 9 |
Flowers are a rich pumpkin color on this tall bearded iris, giving off a strong autumnal vibe. Its lovely petals are spade-shaped and sheared on the margins but not overly ruffled. There is little variation in orange, but some gold notes can be detected in bright light. The beards are slightly brighter but also solid orange.
After its initial bloom in spring, ‘Orange Harvest’ will rebloom again in fall. Plant with black-eyed Susans, coreopsis, and coneflower for a late-season show of color. To display inside, cut stems when the flower buds begin to swell but have not completely opened.
‘Sahara Sands’
‘Sahara Sands’ is a tall, beardless iris with golden-orange blooms and a long vase life.
| | botanical name Iris spuria ‘Sahara Sands’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 3 to 4 feet |
| | hardiness zones 3 to 9 |
Tall and graceful with a slim, upright habit, ‘Sahara Sands’ is a beardless iris with golden-orange blooms that open in early summer. Its falls and petals are spade-shaped and have dark veins. The standards are small, narrow, and solid with little fuss.
Known for its long vase life and light scent, this cultivar works well in mixed arrangements with flowers in purple, red, and yellow shades. It spreads by clump and will naturalize a large area quickly. This iris demands 6 hours of sun per day but enjoys some relief from extremely hot afternoon rays.
‘Maid of Orange’
‘Maid of Orange’ has cheerful creamsicle-colored blooms with scalloped edges and bright orange beards.
| | botanical name Iris germanica ‘Maid of Orange’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 1 to 2 feet |
| | hardiness zones 3 to 9 |
With blooms the color of a summer creamsicle, this cultivar brings cheer to the garden and sets a sunny tone. Petals are scalloped at the edges and have a delicate texture. They are mostly solid, with some subtle veining and bright orange beards on their falls.
Known for being a prolific bloomer, ‘Maid of Orange’ produces 3 to 4 flower stalks per plant and flowers for around two weeks. To preserve it after cutting, make sure your vase water stays cold and gets changed regularly.
‘Grand Canyon Sunset’
‘Grand Canyon Sunset’ features large, distinctively showy flowers with apricot standards and sunset-colored falls.
| | botanical name Iris germanica ‘Grand Canyon Sunset’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2 to 3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 3 to 9 |
Featuring large, showy flowers with apricot standards and sunset-colored falls, this cultivar gets its name from the colors of the setting sun.
Standard petals are predominantly apricot with some subtle variation, while falls have a soft pink center rimmed with bright orange. Plant ‘Grand Canyon Sunset’ with other pinks and oranges for a tropical beach vibe. This variety is as comfortable in a cottage meadow as in an urban patio garden.
‘Lovely Senorita’
‘Lovely Senorita’ is a stunning German iris with flowers featuring bright tangerine standard petals and warm burnt orange falls.
| | botanical name Iris germanica ‘Lovely Seniorita’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 2 to 3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4 to 9 |
This stunning German iris boasts a multi-branching habit with up to 15 flower buds per stalk. Its flowers are 5 inches across with bright tangerine standard petals and warm, burnt orange falls. Throats are golden, and beards are a deep, dark pumpkin color.
Plant ‘Lovely Senorita’ in a large group for a natural vibe with bountiful blooms, or work it into a mixed perennial garden with purples and yellows. Cut stalks down to the base after blooming is complete, and its chartreuse leaves will remain interesting long into the fall.
‘Lotus Land’
‘Lotus Land’ is a peachy-orange iris with intense ruffling, a musky fragrance, and sturdy stems.
| | botanical name Iris germanica ‘Lotus Land’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 2 to 3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 3 to 9 |
For an iris on the peachy side of the orange spectrum, consider planting ‘Lotus Land’ in your landscape. Intensely ruffled with petals that bleed from peach to pink to tangerine, this cultivar has a strong musky fragrance and reaches heights of up to 3 feet on sturdy stems.
Equally at home in a mixed perennial border or a large, formal planting, ‘Lotus Land’ pairs well with other flowers in hues of cream and pink. Ensure the soil drains well to prevent root rot and provide most of its sunlit hours in the morning if possible.
Final Thoughts
Invigorating and undeniably cheerful, orange irises can brighten the garden at a time when many other perennials are just waking up.
Be mindful of their species and unique preferences when choosing a planting location so you can provide the proper amounts of light and moisture. Divide irises every 3 years or so to prevent crowding, and cut them back to the ground in fall, and they’ll give you many seasons of sunny joy.
