Iris Iris 'Hello Darkness' (TB)

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Iris 'Hello Darkness' is a captivating plant known for its strikingly dark, velvety petals. It boasts flowers that are large and showy with deep, rich purple, almost black hues that can appear nearly midnight in color. The contrast of the gold beards against the dark petals adds a dramatic flair to its appearance. This variety of bearded iris features several sword-shaped, green leaves that grow in a fan-like pattern adding a graceful architectural element to the plant's overall shape. As a perennial, it returns each year to produce its magnificent blooms that are not only a visual treat but also exude a delightful fragrance. The blooms have a classic iris form, with three upright petals known as standards and three hanging petals called falls, the latter being the component featuring the distinct deep coloration. Overall, the Iris 'Hello Darkness' is prized for its extraordinary blossom color and is often a standout addition to any garden setting.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Tall Bearded Iris, Bearded Iris
- Common names
  Iris 'Hello Darkness'
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Tall Bearded Iris, including the variety 'Hello Darkness', can be toxic to humans if ingested. The rhizomes, or the underground stems, contain irisin, iridin, or irisine which are substances that can cause digestive upset such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. It is important to avoid ingestion and to handle the plant with care to prevent potential skin irritation.
- To pets
  The Tall Bearded Iris, like 'Hello Darkness', is also toxic to pets, particularly cats and dogs, if ingested. The rhizomes contain compounds that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as salivation, vomiting, drooling, lethargy, and diarrhea. If a pet consumes any part of the Tall Bearded Iris, it is important to contact a veterinarian promptly to manage the symptoms and prevent more severe health issues.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Purple
- Height
  3 feet (0.91 meters)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (0.30-0.61 meters)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  3-9
- Native area
  Varies

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: The Iris 'Hello Darkness' offers deep, velvety purple flowers that can add striking visual interest to any garden or landscape.
- Easy to Grow: This variety of iris is known for being hardy and easy to care for, making it suitable for gardeners of all experience levels.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, the Iris 'Hello Darkness' has good drought tolerance, requiring minimal watering and saving resources.
- Attracts Pollinators: The vibrant flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, which are essential for a healthy ecosystem.
- Cut Flowers: The blooms of Iris 'Hello Darkness' make excellent cut flowers, with their long stems and lasting qualities.
- Seasonal Interest: This plant typically blooms in late spring to early summer, providing seasonal interest in the garden when many other plants are not in bloom.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Photography Subject: The Iris 'Hello Darkness' with its deep, velvety purple blossoms, is a popular choice for garden and nature photographers seeking to capture the rich hues and striking contrast it can offer.
- Artistic Inspiration: Artists may use the striking appearance of Iris 'Hello Darkness' as a muse for paintings, drawings, and other forms of visual art to replicate its unique color and form.
- Theme Gardens: This cultivar can be used to create a 'gothic' or 'midnight' themed garden due to its dark flowers, which provide a moody atmosphere.
- Educational Tool: Botany teachers can utilize the Iris 'Hello Darkness' to teach students about hybridization and the genetics of flower coloration.
- Culinary Presentation: While not edible, the dramatic petals of Iris 'Hello Darkness' can be used as a non-toxic decorative element to enhance the visual appeal of fine dining dishes.
- Craft Supplies: The dried petals of the Iris 'Hello Darkness' could be used in craft projects, such as in homemade paper making, providing a rich, dark pigment.
- Color Inspiration: The deep purple of the Iris 'Hello Darkness' can serve as inspiration for interior design, fashion, and cosmetics, influencing color palettes and designs.
- Horticultural Competitions: Gardeners can cultivate Iris 'Hello Darkness' for entry into flower shows and horticultural competitions, aiming to win awards for its exceptional beauty and rarity.
- Floral Language Communication: In the language of flowers, the Iris 'Hello Darkness' could convey a message of admiration and compliments on the recipient’s elegance and mystery.
- Wedding Decor: With its dark, sophisticated blooms, Iris 'Hello Darkness' can be included in wedding bouquets or decorations to add a touch of dramatic flair to the event.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Iris is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Iris is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Hope: The iris symbolizes hope, representing the expectation for positive outcomes and future happiness. Its very name, inspired by the Greek goddess Iris, a messenger of the gods who linked the heavens to humanity, is associated with communication and new beginnings.
- Faith: The iris has long been a symbol of faith, encompassing religious devotion and spiritual assurance. In Christian symbolism, the iris is often linked to the Virgin Mary, signifying purity and virtue.
- Wisdom: Known for its regal bearing and elegant flowers, the iris is frequently associated with wisdom. It often stands for valuable knowledge and learning.
- Courage: The robust nature of the iris, as well as its bold coloration, has made it emblematic of courage, which is fitting for a plant named 'Hello Darkness,' suggesting an ability to embrace the unknown.
- Royalty: In ancient times, the iris was a symbol of power and majesty. The fleur-de-lis, a stylized iris, has become a traditional emblem of royalty, especially in French heraldry.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 3-4 years

Repotting

🌱️

Late Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Tall Bearded Irises like 'Hello Darkness' should be watered deeply once a week, providing about one inch of water. This translates to roughly half a gallon for each square foot of soil. During the growing season, especially in dry conditions, the frequency may need to increase, but be cautious of overwatering. Irises prefer not to sit in wet soil, so ensure good drainage to prevent root rot. During the dormant season, in fall and winter, reduce watering significantly to prevent issues with cold, damp soil.
Light
The Tall Bearded Iris 'Hello Darkness' thrives in full sun which means at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Select a spot in the garden that receives ample morning light and where the afternoon sun isn’t too harsh. A location with bright, indirect light during the hottest part of the day will help protect the blooms from fading quickly.
Temperature
Tall Bearded Irises like 'Hello Darkness' prefer temperatures within the range of 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit but can survive minimum temperatures down to about -20 degrees Fahrenheit. These irises are hardy and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures but perform best when night temperatures are cooler than daytime temperatures. Ensure to protect them from extreme heat above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pruning
Prune Tall Bearded Irises like 'Hello Darkness' to remove dead or damaged leaves and spent flower stalks. Pruning encourages healthy growth and deters pests and diseases. Cut back the foliage to about 6 inches above the ground after blooming, usually in late summer. Remove dead foliage in fall to tidy the plant and reduce the risk of iris borer and other pests overwintering in the debris.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The Tall Bearded Iris 'Hello Darkness' thrives best in a well-draining soil mix with a slightly acidic to neutral pH of 6.8 to 7.0. A mixture of loamy garden soil, compost, and coarse sand is ideal to ensure proper drainage and fertility.
Repotting
Tall Bearded Irises, including 'Hello Darkness,' do not require frequent repotting and should only be divided and repotted every 3 to 5 years to rejuvenate and spread out the rhizomes.
Humidity & Misting
Tall Bearded Iris 'Hello Darkness' is tolerant of a wide range of humidity levels and does not require specific humidity conditions, making it quite adaptable to typical outdoor environments.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Provide bright light and good air flow for indoor Tall Bearded Iris.
- Outdoor
  Plant in sunny spot with well-drained soil for outdoor Tall Bearded Iris.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA.
Life cycle
The Tall Bearded Iris 'Hello Darkness', like other irises, starts its life cycle when a seed germinates in soil with proper sunlight, moisture, and temperature conditions. The seedling then develops into a young plant with leaves and a rhizome, the underground stem that is characteristic of iris plants. Over time, the rhizome grows and begins to produce more leaves and increase in size, preparing to flower. Once mature, usually in late spring to early summer, 'Hello Darkness' produces its distinctive deep purple, almost black, flowers which last for a short bloom period before dying back. After flowering, the plant enters into a period of vegetative growth, where the rhizome continues to store energy for the next season. The iris then goes dormant in the winter, conserving its energy until the cycle starts again with new growth in the spring.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Late Summer
- The most popular method of propagating the Iris 'Hello Darkness' is through division. This is typically done in the late summer to early fall, after the flowering has finished and the foliage begins to fade. To propagate by division, dig up the Iris clumps with a shovel or garden fork, being careful not to damage the rhizomes. Gently shake off the excess soil and wash the rhizomes with water to see them clearly. Using a sharp knife, cut the rhizomes into pieces, making sure that each section has at least one fan of leaves and a portion of the roots attached. Shorten the leaves to about a third of their height, or 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters), to reduce water loss and make planting easier. These divisions should then be replanted at the correct depth, which is with the top of the rhizome barely visible above the soil surface, and spaced about 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 centimeters) apart to allow room for growth.