Iris ‘Dangerous Mood’

Startling Black Falls

One of the darkest varieties, with excellent contrast between light and deep blues.

One of the most dramatic Tall Bearded Irises, this 2004 Schreiner introduction flowers in early midseason, filling garden and vase with two-tone blue colors, the falls so dark they look black. A bold cultivar suitable for high-interest spots where its unusual black tones can be admired, ‘Dangerous Mood’ is a must-have for the Iris garden.

The petals have a velvety look that makes the black tones stand out even more brilliantly. A tiny orange beard stars the blooms, and the standards are held upright in a rather tight cluster. Very elegant in silhouette, ‘Dangerous Mood’ makes an excellent cutflower as well as a stately garden presence.

This plant reaches 3 feet tall and 18 to 24 inches wide. It is renowned for its weather resistance, standing up to storms and stress a bit more effectively than others in the family. Very adaptable to differing soil types, ‘Dangerous Mood’ tolerates heat, humidity, cold, and even (once established) periods of drought, though best flowering is always in rich, moist soil. Zones 3-8.