Iris ‘Red Hawk’

The Closest Yet to True Red!

A late bloomer, it concludes the Iris season with a flourish.

Yuor search for a red Tall Bearded Iris may have ended: ‘Red Hawk’ is the nearest thing yet to this dream, and its combination of purple- and copper-infused shades is so handsome in itself that even if fire-engine red Irises were common, ‘Red Hawk’ would be prized for its rich jewel tones.

These blooms arise in late season — early summer in most climates — with extravagant ruffles, crimping on the petal edges of the falls, and golden-orange highlights near the base of both standards and falls. The color palette is warm and very intense on these flowers, for an unforgettable look that combines well with the traditional purples and blues of the Iris family, but also makes a stunning stand-alone cutflower.

‘Red Hawk’ is a vigorous, tall plant, reaching 3 feet or so and suitable for the rear of the Iris border. It concludes the Tall Bearded season with a bold flourish, always leaving you wanting more despite its heavy bud count and generous bloom!

Introduced by Schreiner in 1995, ‘Red Hawk’ has our vote for the closest — and most beautiful — cultivar yet to true red. Its colors are saturated, pleasing, and mellow, adding a stately look to any setting. And this cultivar is renowned for its tolerance of heat and humidity, thriving in the long summers of zones 9 and 10. Very adaptable to differing soil types, ‘Red Hawk’ also tolerates periods of drought, though best flowering is always in rich, moist soil. Highly recommended. Zones 3-10.