Honest review: Blue Flag Iris is rewarding but blanketweed algae competing for nutrients in established ponds is real

Blue Flag Iris is a genuinely satisfying plant to grow, but I want to be upfront about one thing: blanketweed algae competing for nutrients in established ponds. I've dealt with it twice now and it takes consistent attention to manage.

Beyond that, natural filtration improving water clarity and quality makes it one of my favourites in the collection. I keep it in a stream edge or bog garden which suits it well. Learning about dividing overcrowded plants every two or three years in spring has been essential. foliage die-back and pond tidying in autumn is worth waiting for — the plant really justifies itself then. Four stars because of that persistent issue.