Zone 8 · winter lows 10°F to 20°F

Iris for Zone 8

253 Iris varieties rated hardy through Zone 8, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 8 is mild winters open the door to broadleaf evergreens and early bloom.

253 hardy hereof 258 Iris totalLast frost ~late March

The Iris that thrive in Zone 8

#1 most saved

Celebration Song Iris

Iris tenuissima 'Celebration Song'

Zones 4–9· 332 saves· from $14

#2 most saved

German Iris Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'Mix'

Zones 4–9· 332 saves· from $8

#3 most saved

Poem of Ecstasy German Iris

Iris x germanica 'Poem Of Ecstasy'

Zones 4–10· 243 saves

Siberian Iris 'Paprikash'

Iris x hybrida 'Paprikash'

Zones 4–9· 242 saves· from $13

Dutch Iris Mix

Iris x hollandica 'Mix'

Zones 5–9· 239 saves

Baboon Bottom Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'Baboon Bottom Bearded'

Zones 4–9· 229 saves

Bewilderbeast KickStart Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'Bewilderbeast KickStart'

Zones 4–9· 205 saves

Immortality Tall Bearded Iris

Iris sibirica 'Immortality'

Zones 4–10· 149 saves· from $13

Ruffled Velvet Siberian Iris

Iris sibirica 'Ruffled Velvet'

Zones 4–9· 123 saves

War Chief Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'War Chief'

Zones 4–9· 108 saves· from $14

Pseudata Iris

Iris pseudata

Zones 4–9· 107 saves

Forever Blue Reblooming Dwarf Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'Forever Blue Dwarf Reblooming'

Zones 4–10· 86 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· 70 saves· from $10

Siberian Iris 'Silver Edge'

Iris sibirica 'Silver Edge'

Zones 4–8· 69 saves· from $16

Blue Flag Iris

Iris versicolor

Zones 4–9· 69 saves· from $11

Handmaiden Louisiana Iris

Iris x hybrida 'Handmaiden'

Zones 5–10· 67 saves

Purple Flame German Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'Purple Flame'

Zones 4–10· 66 saves· from $17

Virginia Iris

Iris virginica 'Carl Amason'

Zones 4–9· 65 saves

Harvest of Memories Bearded Iris

Iris x germanica 'Harvest Of Memories'

Zones 4–9· 63 saves· from $10

Crested Iris

Iris cristata

Zones 4–9· 63 saves· from $12

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

Louisiana Iris Wow Factor

Iris x hybrida 'Wow Factor'

Zones 6–10· 61 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 253 Zone 8–hardy Iris varieties. See the full Iris list →

Iris in Zone 8

Will Iris survive a Zone 8 winter?

253 of the 258 Iris varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 8, where winter lows reach 10°F to 20°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 8?

In Zone 8 the last spring frost typically lands around late March and the first fall frost around mid-November. 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 8?

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 8

See Iris in your Zone 8 yard

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