Paint a Garden Delightful With Iris
Charming and colorful, irises propagate easily, are hardy in many soils and climates, and unfold with layers of beauty
I am a freelance editorial and wedding photographer and Houzz contributor based out of Hershey, PA. Come visit me at 'A Nest for All Seasons' where I write about design, photography and modern garden living!
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There's more to an iris than its pretty face. These flowers work double time by providing textural contrast against the typical round garden plants and creating beautiful blooms at the end of their season. Whether you prefer the more sturdy and stunning Siberian iris or the dainty and delicate Japanese and Pacific Coast varieties, this colorful, charming and sturdy flower is a great addition to any garden style. Whatever your style, whichever colors you are painting your gardens with, there is certainly an iris for you.
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| Botanical name: Iridacae Common name: Iris USDA zones: 3 to 9, depending on species Water requirement: Loves moist soil Light requirement: Full sun, part sun Mature size: 6 inches to 3 feet tall, depending on species Benefits: Tolerates "wet feet," propagates easily, hardy in a variety of conditions, blooms profusely Shown here: Pacific Coast iris, native to the Western U.S. |
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| The iris flower might be best known for unfolding layers of terrific beauty. The buds of irises swell for days, until one morning the petals peel back to reveal the most intricate of designs. From white to purple and everything in between, irises offers a host of color options that work with any garden scheme. Irises actually get their name from the Greek word for "rainbow" — that's how many colors there are to choose from. |
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| However, the beauty of the blooms is not the only benefit of the iris. Their greater contribution to the garden is the upright, spiky forms of the foliage. Whenever I have a dull spot in the garden with too many round plants, I stick in a strand of iris. The spikes make the other plants look a bit more defined. |
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| Irises can be planted in any type of soil, but they love the water. In fact, they can even be planted in shallow water — Japanese and Louisiana irises are particularly good for water planting. |
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It's a good idea to plant irises in clumps, since this is how they typically grow in the wild. Plant four to five rhizomes together — but don't get them too close. Irises multiply every year, so leave a little space for them to grow.
There is nothing worse than a line of single irises along a pond's edge. Avoid this, and plant them in groups instead.
There is nothing worse than a line of single irises along a pond's edge. Avoid this, and plant them in groups instead.
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| A single line of bearded irises works well in modern water gardens to create a strong line. |
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| Irises can be formal or informal depending on the application. Japanese iris or wild iris are both thin stemmed and work well in a country garden for a less structured look. This photo shows off the variety 'Chimes' from the Pacific Coast Iris Collection. |
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Whether you choose to go with a giant, formal Siberian iris with brilliant purple blooms or a diminutive wild iris with waving blooms of white, this easy-care plant is bound to be beautiful in gardens in a wide range of climate zones.
Odds are you won't even have to go to the nursery to find them — irises grow in overgrown clumps, and you may have a neighbor who's dividing a few. Offer to take some off their hands and invite the magic of the iris into your own little patch of Eden.
Odds are you won't even have to go to the nursery to find them — irises grow in overgrown clumps, and you may have a neighbor who's dividing a few. Offer to take some off their hands and invite the magic of the iris into your own little patch of Eden.
Ideabook updated on June 12, 2012.
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Iris is tough as nails, so it can be planted anytime the ground is workable. To propagate, simply lift the clumps, break into 2-3" pieces and replant. I have often left irises sitting uprooted for weeks, forgetting to get them in the ground and they bounce back fine. Tradition calls for planting in the fall, but I have not found iris to object to moving any time of the year.
Light requirements are listed in the plant facts section of the article.
Please feel free to ask any other questions you might have!