German Bearded Iris ‘Rosalie Figge’
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Iris perfectly blend color, fragrance, geometry and grace.
I’ve spent the last six months delving into the details of the genus and am delighting now in watching them unfold their perfect standards and falls.
The appearance of Iris each spring still feels like a bit of natural magic. From a slender green stem, the intensely pure colors emerge as each flower unfolds.
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Iris tectorum, Japanese roof Iris, can be grown on traditional thatched roofs. It was a status symbol in some Japanese communities to have a roof covered with blooming Iris. This is a crested Iris, like our native Iris cristata.
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Watching an Iris bud open reminds me of how a butterfly emerges from its chrysalis, ever so slowly stretching and unfolding its wings. Both grow so large one wonders how they could have possibly fit into their sheath. While a butterfly soon flies off in search of nectar and a mate, Iris blossoms remain anchored to their stems, hovering above the garden in motionless flight.
Our Iris continue to multiply in the garden. I’ve been collecting them, dividing them, and have even received some as gifts. Most bloom only once each year, and then for only a few weeks. But what an amazing sight to anticipate through the long weeks of winter, knowing that spring will bring Iris blossoms once again. Collecting different types of Iris extends the period of bloom, and planting re-blooming iris offers the tantalizing promise of an encore in autumn.
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Iris pallida, a European species Iris brought to Virginia by the colonists, is one of the species used in German bearded Iris hybrids.
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There is a fellowship of Iris lovers extending back through our recorded history. We see Iris carved into bas reliefs in Egyptian temples, and Iris flowers were admired in ancient Greece. The Babylonians grew them, and Iris grew wild across the hills of Turkey and meadows of Europe. There are more than 150 species of Iris, and many of our garden Iris are hybrids of two or more species.
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Native Iris cristata
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Tough and persistent, Iris are easy to grow, once you understand what each variety needs. It is easy to fall in love with Iris plants in bloom. And that is the best way to buy them, so you know exactly what you are planting. Since most are hybrids, gardeners rarely grow Iris from seeds.
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Some Iris grow from bulbs, most from rhizomes. Some may come in the mail as bare-root plants. You may have to wait a year or two for the first bloom when you buy divisions.
For immediate satisfaction, look for potted Iris plants in bloom. You will know exactly what colors you are adding to your garden and know you have a healthy plant to start.
Then, just wait for the beauty to multiply with each passing year.
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Iris x hollandica ‘Silver Beauty’
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Woodland Gnome 2019
Many thanks to the wonderful ‘Six on Saturday’ meme sponsored by The Propagator.
Forest Garden 