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Family: Iridaceae (eye-rid-AY-see-ee) (Info) Genus: Iris (EYE-ris) (Info) Cultivar: Superstition Hybridized by Schreiner; Year of Registration or Introduction: 1977
Height: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm) 36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Spacing: 12-15 in. (30-38 cm) 15-18 in. (38-45 cm) 18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Hardiness: USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F) USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F) USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Danger: Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color: Dark Purple/Black
Bloom Time: Midseason (M)
Foliage: Herbaceous
Other details: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater Flowers are good for cutting
Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information: Non-patented
Propagation Methods: By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
Seed Collecting: N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Awards (if applicable): Honorable Mention Award of Merit
On Jun 20, 2006, uallady from Des Plaines, IL wrote:
Has anyone else had the problem of rather weak stalks on this iris?? Maybe mine was growing in too shady a place. But compared to the sturdy stalks of Dusky Challenger this one has fallen over quite a bit for me.
On May 19, 2006, Cybrczch from Lincoln, NE (Zone 5b) wrote:
Extremely dark purple, in the right light it looks black, and this year (2006) with the cooler weather right before blooming the falls are nearly black even under fluorescent lights.
On Jun 20, 2005, Joan from Belfield, ND (Zone 4a) wrote:
Beautiful, almost black blooms. I love this iris, since it's so unique.
Awards: American Iris Society Award of Merit 1981
Editor's Note
Rhizomes (thickened roots) and rootstocks, fresh or dry, of all Iris species and cultivars are poisonous if ingested. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and elevated temperature following ingestion. Some resources claim the toxic principal (irisin, iridin, irisine) only cause low toxicity if eaten.
Skin irritation can develop upon contact with seeds, rhizomes, rootstock, or cell sap.
We tend to err on the side of caution in PlantFiles, and the danger notation in the details above is to warn gardeners, parents, and pet owners to look further for more information.
On May 29, 2005, angelap from Weatherford, TX (Zone 7b) wrote:
Alas, I was also expecting a BLACK flower, but I am thrilled with the dark, dark purple. Mine tend to fade out quickly in the Texas sun, but they are still stunning. I have them planted against a background of coreopsis "Sunshine" and the black/purple/golden yellow combination always makes the neighbors stop and look!
Superstition is a lovely dark purple and grows well in the Oklahoma South East Oklahoma area.
I really wanted a more black by what the photo showed on the package it was a really dark black but it's a really dark purple.
It does take a good two years before any blooms apear. Bought in 2001 and bloomed in 2003.
I have also seen the color as:
Dark Ebony beauty hint of Maroon.
Ebony Standards and Falls w/ dark purple veins and blue-black beards.
On Jun 20, 2003, NellPercy from Ponca City, OK wrote:
One of those old reliables that you love to have in your garden. It may be cold weather that has all the "blacks" open so they look black. This and Dusky Challenger were black when they very first opened.
On Jun 6, 2003, Crimson from Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b) wrote:
Large blooms, impressive dark color just short of black. Blooms well in part shade, 2nd year after planting.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Tucson, Arizona Fayetteville, Arkansas Sherwood, Arkansas Arbuckle, California Auburn, California Coarsegold, California Merced, California Victorville, California Glastonbury, Connecticut Gainesville, Georgia Roopville, Georgia Boise, Idaho Chicago, Illinois Hampton, Illinois Morris, Illinois Mount Prospect, Illinois Saint Charles, Illinois Williamsville, Illinois Ewing, Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky Durham, Maine South China, Maine Scituate, Massachusetts Mason, Michigan Smiths Creek, Michigan Deer River, Minnesota Red Wing, Minnesota Robertsville, Missouri Lincoln, Nebraska Auburn, New Hampshire Union, New Jersey Los Alamos, New Mexico Lake Toxaway, North Carolina Belfield, North Dakota Felicity, Ohio Lawton, Oklahoma Ponca City, Oklahoma Sawyer, Oklahoma Doylestown, Pennsylvania Conway, South Carolina Seneca, South Carolina Celina, Tennessee Elizabethton, Tennessee Greeneville, Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Lafayette, Tennessee South Fulton, Tennessee Houston, Texas Weatherford, Texas Vancouver, Washington East Troy, Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin Sheridan, Wyoming
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