There are many species of this beautiful flower and history tells us that Irises actually go back to the 11th century. Iris actually means a rainbow and it is said to be the flower of the Greek Goddess Iris, the messenger of love. A much loved flower by most gardeners, Irises come in various shapes, forms sizes and colors. Most gardeners agree that even when the plant is not in bloom, the sword like foliage of Irises is quite attractive in any garden. Irises grow from bulbs and are considered herbaceous perennials so once you plant you them, you will have them for years to come. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

According to the American Iris Society, Irises can be classified in two groups, rhizomes and bulbous. There are countless varieties and species of Irises within these groups but the most commonly found in most gardens is the bearded German Iris. Other types of hybrids have come along which are crosses between tall and dwarf varieties. Irises with rhizomes are the ones used in many perfumes even today and in medicine during ancient times.

Did you know that some Iris bulbs are shipped in the fall and some in the spring? Before you start planning your Iris garden, figure out if you want the iris bulbs in the spring or fall. Assuming that you ordered the bulbs in the spring plant them in the fall in well drained soil and 4 inches deep. Make sure the bulb is near the surface and firm the soil tightly. Take a look and be sure the bulb is just beneath the surface of the soil. Irises like a sunny bright location but will also do well in partial shade. To give you an idea of the Irises that ship in the spring and fall, here are a few of my favorites.

Spicy Cajun Louisiana Iris – ships in the spring
A beautiful Iris that blooms mid-summer with two toned flowers to add beauty to your landscape! The flowers are sunny yellow and have violet or lavender petals and the plants have long stems and grass like foliage. It is hardy and deer resistant so it can be planted anywhere in your garden, backyard or even near ponds. Spicy Cajun thrives in zones 4-9 and grows 38″ high. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

Siberian Iris Blue King – ships in the spring
Blue King has brilliant blue flowers that are a bit smaller than those of the bearded Iris. It is easy to grow and blooms in late spring and returns every year with lots more gorgeous blooms. After its blooming season, this Iris will add beauty to your garden as it remains in the garden with its attractive grass like foliage all summer long. It thrives in zones 4-9 and grows to 40″ tall. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

Beverly Sills re-blooming Bearded Iris – ships in the fall
Bearded Irises come in different colors and most of them bloom in the spring and again in the fall. It is the most popular Iris by most gardeners and used extensively in bouquets and many other flower arrangements by florists. Beverly Sills described here comes in a pink color that is just beautiful. It blooms mid to late spring and then again in the fall. It grows from 30 to 36″ tall and thrives in zones 4-9. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

Lion King Dutch Iris – ships in the fall
Gorgeous Iris created by one of Holland’s premier bulb growers and first offered by Breck’s which is a reputable bulb company. Lion King is very unique in that the flowers have purple and bronze falls with tiger yellow stripes. It is very different than most Irises with this color combination that will add a very dramatic and exotic look to any garden or landscape. Lion King blooms early to late summer and grows 20 to 24″ tall. According to Breck’s, these tall stemmed plants will thrive under most conditions and do well in zones 5-9. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 28th, 2010 at 5:39 pm and is filed under Flower Gardening, Irises. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.