Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

Irises (also known as irises) are among the long-running favorites in German gardens. Everything you need to know about the flowering period, different varieties of the flower and caring for irises can be found in our overview.

No matter if one color or multicolored: irises convince with their colorful and elegant flowers

A magnificent early summer perennial, the iris has long been a popular garden plant. There are countless iris species and cultivars, the flowers of which appear in many different colors and color combinations. Irises really do come in all the colors of the rainbow, as their name suggests. "Iris" comes from the Greek and means "rainbow".

Iris: flowering time, origin and characteristics

Irises (Iris) are a genus of flowering plants in the iris family (Iridaceae) and have been native to our gardens for centuries . Even if their name suggests otherwise, irises are only distantly related to lilies. The many iris species are distributed in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. The bearded iris (Iris barbata) is probably the best-known and most intensively cultivated iris species. Three groups can be distinguished according to size and flowering time. The lower a strain grows, the sooner it will flower. The Barbata Elatior group consists of large irises with a height of 60 to 120 centimeters and a flowering period from late May to June. Not only does it have the longest flower stalks, it also has the largest flowers. Slightly earlier in May, irises of the medium-tall Barbata Intermedia or Barbata Media group bloom, the stems of which grow to 40 to 60 centimeters in height. The small irises of the Barbata Nana group, which are at most 40 centimeters high, bloom as early as mid-April and are therefore a herald of spring. They are ideal for rock gardens and borders.

Less known, but at least as elegant is the steppe iris (Iris spuria). It grows up to 150 centimeters high and can be combined well with the slightly smaller meadow iris (Iris sibirica). Flowering from February to March, the dwarf iris species include Iris reticulata and Irisdanfordiae to the earliest Iris species. The Japanese swamp iris (Iris ensata) adorns the edges of ponds in various colors from pink to blue to violet and grows to a height of 80 to 100 centimeters.

The iris blossoms consist of 3 inner and outer petals. The inner leaves of the bearded iris are folded upwards and closed. They form the "dome" that appears less developed and lower in other Iris species. The 3 outer leaves hang sideways. In the case of the bearded iris, the upper part of the outer leaves also has a brush-like structure, the “beard”, which gives it its name.

The bearded iris is easily recognizable by the brush-like formations above its hanging leaves

All iris species mentioned have narrow, sword-shaped and upright leaves. They are mostly bright green to gray-green in color and sometimes have a slightly bluish tinge. Depending on the species, irises have tubers, rhizomes or bulbs as storage organs.

Iris varieties: The most beautiful irises for the garden

The species mentioned above each cover a large range of varieties. These are the loveliest irises for the garden:

Tall Beard Iris (Iris Barbata Elatior Group)

  • ′Kupferhammer′: Robust and flowering variety from 1930; yellow dome, mahogany red drop leaves, marbled in the middle, beard in orange; Height: 40cm; Flowering period: May - June.
  • ′Provencal′: burgundy red, leaves with a yellow centre; Height: 85cm; Flowering period: May - June.
  • ′Proud Tradition′: Soft violet dome, strong violet-blue falls; Height: 100cm; Flowering period: May.

Medium Bearded Iris (IrisBarbata Intermedia or IrisBarbata Media Group)

  • ′Arctic Fancy′: White, slightly marbled ground with violet border; Height: 50cm; Flowering period: May - June.
  • ′Swizzle′: golden yellow flowers; Height: 50 - 70 cm; Flowering period: May - June.
  • ′Con Brio′: Dark purple droplets, light purple dome; flowers are fragrant; Height: 60cm; Flowering period: May and September.

Low Beard Iris (Iris Barbata Nana Group)

  • 'Little Buccaneer': maroon-red flowers, yellow beard; Height: 25cm; Flowering period: April - May.
  • ′Church Stoke′: purple dome, purple falls (color deepens slightly towards the center), yellow-white beard; fragrant; Height: 25cm; Flowering period: April - May.
  • ′Soft Air′: white-yellow flowers; Height: 30cm; Flowering time: April -May.
Yellow iris varieties shine particularly intensely

Steppeniris (Iris spuria)

  • ′Betty Cooper′: petals lemon yellow in the center with fine lavender lines surrounded by a soft purple border; Height: 120cm; Flowering period: May - June.
  • ′Archie Owen′: Bright golden yellow flowers; Height: 90 - 100 cm; Flowering period: June.

Meadow iris (Iris sibirica)

  • ′Butter and Sugar′: standards sugar-yellow, falling leaves butter-yellow; Height: 40 - 60 cm; Flowering period: May - June.
  • ′Caesars Brother′: Small dark purple flowers; Height: 60 - 100 cm; Flowering period: May - June.

Pigiris

  • Iris reticulata ′Harmony′: Small reticulated iris with delicate, cornflower-blue petals, yellow-white marbled toward the center; Height: 10 - 15 cm; Flowering period: February - March.
  • Iris histrioides ′Katharine Hodgkin′: petals with light blue veins on white ground, yellow zone towards the middle with dark blue spots; Height: 15 - 25cm; Flowering period: March - April.

Japanese swamp iris (Iris ensata)

  • ´Galathea´: Standards are rather short and dainty, droplets are very broad and often have pretty veins; white-purple flower; Height: 80cm; Flowering period: June - July.
The color gamut of the Japanese swamp iris includes all shades of purple and purple, as well as white and blue

Iris care: How to care for irises before and after flowering

You can find out how to plant irises correctly and which location is best for which species in our special article on planting irises. Below are some tips for pruning and fertilizing the iris. Tall varieties in particular should also be supported during the flowering period.

Cut Iris

The iris flowers should be cut off after flowering for several reasons. On the one hand, this avoids the energy-intensive formation of seeds, and on the other hand, fungi and diseases are prevented. Cut back faded irises to about 10 centimeters. The leaves can be left standing, they are also a decorative element in the perennial border in winter. If fungi appear, the leaflets are also cut back and the plants put out new leaves in midsummer. Some iris varieties such as the High Bearded Iris 'Total Recall' or 'English Cottage' react to a consistent pruning after the first flowering with a second flowering phase in autumn.

Irisesfertilize

Modern iris varieties need more nutrients than older varieties. You should fertilize the iris at least once a year. The right time for fertilization is in March, when the perennials start to sprout. A second fertilization can be done in May. It is best to choose a potassium-rich fertilizer, such as our Plantura organic flower fertilizer with a long-term effect. This covers the nutrient requirements of your irises in the long term and supports their development into he althy and resilient plants.

Water Iris

Young iris flowers should be watered from time to time. Older plants that have established themselves well in their location usually do not need to be watered. If the drought lasts a long time, however, they should be given a little water to be on the safe side.

hibernate iris

Most iris species are hardy and can survive the winter months in the garden without additional protection. However, some species, such as the meadow iris, are more sensitive to cold and should be prepared for the winter. Cut the flower stalks about 10 centimeters above the rhizome and remove discolored leaves and dried leaf tips. In fall, cover the irises with a layer of leaves, twigs, or straw to protect them from the effects of frost.

Propagating irises

One way to propagate irises is to divide the rhizomes in spring or after flowering. Even if you do not necessarily want to multiply the irises in your garden, this measure is advisable. The flowering strength of the iris often decreases after 3 to 5 years. By dividing the rhizomes, the perennials are naturally stimulated to form new iris flowers.

Sharing irises: step-by-step instructions

  • Time: late summer.
  • Carefully dig the rhizomes out of the ground.
  • Use a sharp knife to cut through the rhizomes at the constrictions you can see (the cut surface should be as small as possible).
  • Cut the leaves by about half (this will reduce evaporation and avoid weakening the plants).
  • Select the young, vigorous rootstocks (the edge pieces are the strongest) and plant out fist-sized pieces again.
  • Pour vigorously.
Irises can be propagated by dividing the rhizomes

As an alternative to dividing the roots, which produces pure irises, irises can also be propagated by sowing. Wait until theRipe the capsules and then harvest the seeds. Irises are cold and dark germs. Therefore, put the seeds in the refrigerator a few days before sowing. Then they can be sown in a sheltered place in pots filled with substrate and covered with a layer of soil about 2 centimeters high. For example, our peat-free Plantura organic herb and seed soil is ideal as a substrate. With continuous humidification and a temperature of around 15 °C, the iris seeds will germinate and develop into new plants.

Are irises poisonous?

All parts of the plant, but especially the roots of the iris, contain toxic substances that can cause serious symptoms of poisoning if eaten. In some cases, they can also lead to skin irritation or even dermatitis when touched. Therefore, for safety, the iris should be planted in a place inaccessible to children and pets.

If you are considering planting irises in your garden, you will find helpful tips in our dedicated article on planting irises.

You can also find more inspiration for your perennial garden in our article on hardy perennials.

Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

Category:

Garden Design