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.
When growing tall bearded iris season is over in June, it marks the end of iris bloom for the average gardener for another year. So often, people have remarked to me, “Iris is very beautiful, but I don’t like that they have such a short blooming season!” New pathways to adventure in iris-growing are now … Read more
Fred W. Cassebeer, a well-known iris hybridizer, shares what to select for in your iris hybridizing 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 the plum tomato, but he would probably be at … Read more
“Southern gardeners are no pikers, by any means, lit growing iris,” says Boyce M. Edens, one of Atlanta’s and the South’s well-known iris specialists. “In fact,” adds Mr. Edens, “the number of iris enthusiasts in the South is increasing so rapidly that not only many of the largest collections but also some of the most … Read more
The oncocyclus iris are native to Palestine and other areas with long, dry, hot summers. Cold winters are mentioned, but I am sure those referred to could not compare to our Minnesota winters. Except for an occasional dry spell during the summer, we have much more moisture than the oncocyclus iris is supposed to be … Read more
Can you imagine speckled and veined flowers in lilac-pink, scarlet-bronze, greenish-white, maroon, gray, and black? These are the exotic oncocyclus and regalia iris, called aril iris because their seeds have prominent white arils or collars. To some iris fanciers and discriminating gardeners, they are the bluebloods of the flower world. The colors of these iris … Read more
The colorful, Spring-flowering iris is one of the easiest plants for the average homeowner to grow. Its colorful, prismatic hues are a delight for all to behold, while its culture is well within the scope of any beginner. Hybridizers have extended the period of bloom to produce a much longer season than hitherto imagined. If … Read more
For many years the strain of bulbous iris called “Dutch” iris has been limited to three or four colors in which blue was dominant. One of the most popular and widely used of these was WEDGWOOD, a light blue-flowered variety with narrow yellow signals on the falls. Its adaptability to greenhouse forcing made it a … Read more
June is a joyous time, for its iris-time. Everywhere, gardens large and small, private and public, even nursery rows — are a glow with the rainbow flowers in all their ravishing colors. To these displays, areas come the iris fans and the beauty lovers, gathering in tiny groups or throngs, to both appreciate and study … Read more
Would you like your garden to attract the attention of all who pass by? If so, plant Japanese iris, Iris kaempferi. This large, graceful iris comes into bloom in late May, June, or July, depending upon the section of the country, just as the last tall bearded iris have faded and the English iris is … Read more
Perhaps you haven’t seen irises lately. You may recall them as those early fleeting blooms in drab violets or washed-out yellows seen everywhere some 60 years ago, thriving on neglect but adding little to the beauty or variety of the garden. Or maybe you have acquired a new taste for the iris, but find the … Read more