Zone 5 · winter lows -20°F to -10°F

Iris for Zone 5

246 Iris varieties rated hardy through Zone 5, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 5 is classic northern gardening with a reliable snow blanket.

246 hardy hereof 258 Iris totalLast frost ~early May

The Iris that thrive in Zone 5

#1 most saved

German Iris Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'Mix'

Zones 4–9· 328 saves· from $8

#2 most saved

Celebration Song Iris

Iris tenuissima 'Celebration Song'

Zones 4–9· 326 saves· from $15

#3 most saved

Poem of Ecstasy German Iris

Iris x germanica 'Poem Of Ecstasy'

Zones 4–10· 240 saves

Siberian Iris 'Paprikash'

Iris x hybrida 'Paprikash'

Zones 4–9· 238 saves· from $13

Dutch Iris Mix

Iris x hollandica 'Mix'

Zones 5–9· 234 saves· from $15

Baboon Bottom Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'Baboon Bottom Bearded'

Zones 4–9· 225 saves

Bewilderbeast KickStart Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'Bewilderbeast KickStart'

Zones 4–9· 204 saves

Immortality Tall Bearded Iris

Iris sibirica 'Immortality'

Zones 4–10· 146 saves· from $13

Ruffled Velvet Siberian Iris

Iris sibirica 'Ruffled Velvet'

Zones 4–9· 122 saves

Pseudata Iris

Iris pseudata

Zones 4–9· 105 saves

War Chief Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'War Chief'

Zones 4–9· 105 saves· from $15

Forever Blue Reblooming Dwarf Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'Forever Blue Dwarf Reblooming'

Zones 4–10· 85 saves

Navy Blue Crested Iris

Iris cristata 'Navy Blue'

Zones 4–9· 76 saves

City Lights Tall Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'City Lights'

Zones 4–10· 69 saves· from $15

Siberian Iris 'Silver Edge'

Iris sibirica 'Silver Edge'

Zones 4–8· 69 saves· from $16

Blue Flag Iris

Iris versicolor

Zones 4–9· 68 saves· from $12

Handmaiden Louisiana Iris

Iris x hybrida 'Handmaiden'

Zones 5–10· 66 saves

Virginia Iris

Iris virginica 'Carl Amason'

Zones 4–9· 64 saves

Harvest of Memories Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'Harvest Of Memories'

Zones 4–9· 63 saves· from $13

Crested Iris

Iris cristata

Zones 4–9· 62 saves· from $11

Harlequin Blueflag 'John Wood'

Iris versicolor 'John Wood'

Zones 4–9· 62 saves· from $28

Titan Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'Titan'

Zones 4–10· 62 saves

Purple Flame German Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'Purple Flame'

Zones 4–10· 61 saves· from $17

Reblooming Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'Reblooming Mix'

Zones 4–10· 57 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 246 Zone 5–hardy Iris varieties. See the full Iris list →

Iris in Zone 5

Will Iris survive a Zone 5 winter?

246 of the 258 Iris varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 5, where winter lows reach -20°F to -10°F. Hardiness is per-variety, not per-genus — the plants listed above are the ones that hold up; others in the genus are not rated for this zone.

When should I plant Iris in Zone 5?

In Zone 5 the last spring frost typically lands around early May and the first fall frost around early October. Planting after the last frost — or in early fall, so roots establish before the ground cools — gives the best establishment. Each plant page lists its own planting months.

Which Iris is best for Zone 5?

Start at the top of the list above: it is ranked by how many gardeners actually save and grow each variety, which is a strong real-world reliability signal. Then narrow by your sun exposure and the mature size that fits the bed.

Keep exploring

All Iris

Every Iris variety (258)

Iris in other zones

More for Zone 5

See Iris in your Zone 5 yard

Snap a photo of your space and Sow places these varieties in it at true mature size — then keeps the care schedule for everything you plant.

Join Sow for Free