Iris (I’ris) is a large genus of mostly hardy flowering plants most with perennial rootstocks or bulbs.
Irises grow wild in temperate countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Most Irises bloom in May and June.
The structure of Iris flowers differs from most plants. The three outer perianth segments (petals) known as falls hang down; the other three stand erect and are known as standards.
Within the past 50 years, Western Oregon has become the threshold of new developments in the iris, achieving the top award in the International Iris Competition in Florence, Italy, last year. Hybridizers and growers in Oregon are adding scores of new varieties and types to the ever-expanding list of new creations. The vast, virtually untouched … Read more
May is when gardeners become conscious that irises are valuable hardy perennials. The tall bearded irises have come a long way from the “flags” of grandmother’s day. The new irises, developed over the last 25 years, are long-stemmed, well-branched, floriferous, and display a glorious array of colors. They are not to be compared to the … Read more
Most home gardeners think of nematodes as just another burden to be borne by the farmers. The tiny pests infest tobacco, cotton, potatoes, and many other agricultural plants, but most home gardeners think they don’t invade the garden. Recent scientific studies present a different picture. Endless types of nematodes may be found in countless garden … Read more
One morning in 1942, while inspecting our iris seedlings, I was startled when I saw that one of the buds just opening was a deep pink, almost rose red. I had never seen a pure pink iris before, but it had been my dream for many years. Within a few days, seven more pink flowers … Read more
Although American hybridizers have been growing bearded irises for little more than fifty years, they have produced countless numbers of the most beautiful irises in the world today. Now a new area is being explored, including all the middle-sized bearded iris referred to as medians. These vary in height from a maximum of 28” inches … Read more
The adjectives miniature, dwarf, and low growing used to describe iris mean different things to irisarians, botanists, and gardeners. In fact, only in recent years have clear-cut distinctions been made and adopted by the American Iris Society. To home gardeners interested in iris for border edgings, rock gardens, and pots of spring color, the names … Read more
The iris has gathered rich lore through the centuries by symbolizing royalty and fertility to the ancient Egyptians, patriotism to the Buddhists, and Christ’s death to the Christians. The iris was named for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, a messenger for the gods. Certain iris, probably the crested type, symbolized woe to the Greeks … Read more
Have you wanted to know more about the ancestors and cousins of the popular tall bearded iris? One way to satisfy the yearning for more irises and simultaneously gain the answers to your scientific curiosity is to grow some of the iris species—the original plants from nature, untouched by human hybridizers. It is often thought … Read more
One of the easiest iris to grow in our gardens is the little native Iris cristata, the crested iris, which is found wild over most of the South, usually along wooded brooks or creeks. Some iris species are valued only by the collector, but this dainty one appeals both to the discriminating gardener and to … Read more
Fred W. Cassebeer, a well-known iris hybridizer, shares what to select for in your breeding and how to make the cross. If the average gardener were suddenly asked, “What does a hybridizer do?” He might think first of the development of the fuzzless peach or, perhaps, the plum tomato, but he would probably be at … Read more