Siberian Iris Iris 'Roaring Jelly' (Sib)

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Iris 'Roaring Jelly' is a striking perennial known for its beautiful flowers and sword-shaped foliage. This iris cultivar typically showcases bold, ruffled blooms that exhibit a rich blend of colors. The petals are a combination of deep purples and blues with contrasting splashes of white and yellow, giving the flowers a jelly-like appearance that likely inspired its name. The falls, which are the downward-curving petals, usually display a prominent white or yellow 'beard'—a fuzzy-looking strip that adds texture and interest. Surrounding the showy flowers, the plant features clumps of upright, narrow, and stiff green leaves that elegantly fan out from the base. The overall effect of the Iris 'Roaring Jelly' is one of vivid color and dramatic form, making it a popular choice for garden enthusiasts looking to add an eye-catching element to their landscapes.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Siberian Iris, Roaring Jelly
- Common names
  Iris sibirica 'Roaring Jelly'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Siberian Iris, by its common name, is not typically considered toxic to humans. However, like many plants, it can cause stomach upset if ingested. While serious poisoning is rare, eating large quantities of any part of the plant could potentially lead to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. It's always best to err on the side of caution and not consume parts of ornamental plants unless they are known to be edible.
- To pets
  The Siberian Iris may cause mild stomach upset if ingested by pets. Although it's not highly toxic, it's not meant for consumption. Eating parts of this plant might lead to symptoms such as gastrointestinal discomfort, vomiting, or diarrhea in pets. It is advisable to prevent pets from ingesting this plant to avoid any potential discomfort.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Mixed
- Height
  2-3 feet (60-90 cm)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  3-8
- Native area
  Asia

Benefits

General Benefits
- Ornamental Value: Iris 'Roaring Jelly' adds aesthetic appeal to gardens with its striking flowers.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, it can tolerate periods of drought, making it suitable for water-wise gardens.
- Cold Hardy: It can survive cold winters, making it a good choice for gardeners in cooler climates.
- Low Maintenance: Requires minimal care once it's established, making it ideal for novice gardeners or those with limited time.
- Attracts Wildlife: Flowers of Iris 'Roaring Jelly' attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, supporting local ecosystems.
- Soil Adaptability: Able to grow in a variety of soil types, although it prefers well-drained conditions.
- Erosion Control: Helps to prevent soil erosion with its strong root system when planted in suitable areas.
- Long Blooming Period: Provides a long season of blooms, adding color to gardens throughout the growing period.
- Propagation: Can be easily propagated by division, allowing gardeners to spread the beauty to other parts of the garden or share with others.
- Versatility: Suitable for use in borders, mixed beds, and as a focal point in garden design.
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
- Decorative Dye: The petals of the Siberian iris can be used to create natural dyes for fabrics, providing a range of colors from soft blues and purples to nearly black.
- Garden Sculpture: After blooming, the distinctive seed pods and stiff foliage of the Siberian iris can be used in the garden to provide structural interest throughout the fall and winter months.
- Floral Arrangements: The striking blooms and elongated leaves of the Siberian iris can be used to create elegant and sophisticated floral arrangements for events and home decoration.
- Photography Subject: Its dramatic blossoms make the Siberian iris a popular subject for garden photographers and botanical illustrators seeking to capture its unique beauty.
- Companion Planting: The Siberian iris can be used in companion planting to provide a vertical element in the garden and complement other moisture-loving plants.
- Water Garden Focal Point: Suitable for planting at the edges of ponds and water gardens, the Siberian iris's reflections can add a new dimension to aquatic landscaping.
- Pressed Flowers: The blooms of the Siberian iris can be pressed and used in crafting, for example, to make bookmarks or decorate homemade paper.
- Education and Research: Botanical gardens and educational institutions may use the Siberian iris as a teaching tool for plant identification and horticulture practices.
- Wedding Decor: The elegant flowers of the Siberian iris can be incorporated into wedding bouquets and venue decorations, providing a touch of natural sophistication.
- Soil Erosion Control: The robust root system of the Siberian iris can help stabilize soil and prevent erosion in certain landscapes, such as riverbanks or slopes.

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
- Faith - The iris often symbolizes faith and hope. It has been used in religious artwork to represent these virtues, conveying a message of trust in divine providence.
- Wisdom - Historically, the iris is associated with wisdom. This could be tied to the Greek goddess Iris, who was a messenger for the gods and a symbol of communication and messages.
- Valor - Known for its strong and upright stance, the iris can be seen as a symbol of bravery and courage, much like a knight in armor.
- Purity - The bright and often light-colored blooms of the iris convey purity and innocence, making it a suitable flower for weddings and baptisms.
- Royalty - The iris has a regal presence and in some cultures, it's associated with royalty and regal bearing due to its majestic appearance and royal colors.

💧

Every week

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 3-5 years

Repotting

🌱️

Early Spring

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Siberian Iris requires consistent moisture, especially during the growing season, but does not like to be waterlogged. Water thoroughly once a week, providing about an inch of water each time, which equates to approximately 0.6 gallons for an average-sized plant. During hot or dry spells, watering frequency should increase to twice a week. During the winter dormant period, reduce watering but do not allow the soil to completely dry out. Always water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can lead to fungal diseases.
Light
Siberian Iris thrives best in full sun to partial shade. An ideal spot would receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day, but they can tolerate some light afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates. Avoid deep shade as it can lead to poor blooming.
Temperature
Siberian Iris is hardy and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures but grows best when the temperature is between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They can survive winter temperatures down to about -20 degrees Fahrenheit and should be planted in a location that won't get much hotter than 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months.
Pruning
Pruning Siberian Iris is mostly about removing dead or damaged foliage and spent flower stalks, which can be done anytime they are present. The best time for a more thorough clean-up is in the late fall when you can cut back the leaves to a few inches above the ground. This helps to keep the plant healthy and prevents disease. Furthermore, division of the clumps every 3-4 years in late summer can rejuvenate and encourage more vigorous growth and flowering.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Siberian Iris 'Roaring Jelly' prefers a well-draining soil mix rich in organic matter with a pH of slightly acidic to neutral (6.0 - 7.0). A mix containing loamy garden soil, compost, and coarse sand or perlite works well to support healthy growth.
Repotting
Siberian Iris 'Roaring Jelly' typically requires repotting every 3 to 4 years as they are resilient and can manage in the same pot for several seasons before becoming crowded.
Humidity & Misting
Siberian Iris 'Roaring Jelly' is tolerant of a wide range of humidity levels, but it thrives best in average garden humidity conditions without the need for additional humidity control.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright indirect light, in cool room, water when top soil dries.
- Outdoor
  Full sun to partial shade, in moist, well-drained soil.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
The life cycle of the Iris 'Roaring Jelly' begins with seed germination, which occurs in a suitable moist soil in a temperate climate, ideally after a period of cold stratification. Sprouting leads to a seedling stage, where the plant establishes its root system and begins to produce its first set of leaves. As it matures into the vegetative stage, the iris develops into a clump of sword-like leaves and strengthens its rhizomatous root system. The plant then enters the flowering stage, typically in late spring to early summer, when it produces striking flowers with a jelly-like purple coloration. After pollination, the flowers wilt, and seed capsule formation occurs, with seeds developing inside the capsules. The iris, being a perennial, may enter a period of dormancy in the fall and winter months, only to resume growth from the rhizome when conditions become favorable again in the spring.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Early Spring
- Iris 'Roaring Jelly', commonly known as Siberian Iris, is typically propagated through division. The best time to divide Siberian Irises is after they have finished blooming, which generally occurs in late summer to early fall. To propagate, one should carefully dig up the clump of irises, making sure to lift the entire root ball out of the ground. Then, using a sharp knife or spade, sections of the rhizome which include fans of leaves and healthy roots are cut apart. Each division should have at least one fan of leaves and a portion of the rhizome. These divisions are then replanted at the same soil depth they were growing at originally, spaced about 18 to 24 inches (approximately 45 to 60 centimeters) apart to allow for growth. Ensure that the area they are planted in is well-drained and gets full to partial sunlight.