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.
I am convinced that a hobby helps to complete our enjoyment of life, and to me, there is no more safe, sane hobby than a garden, for the love of gardening is a seed that, once sown, grows to an increasing and enduring source of happiness. Flowers are precious things to be cherished in our … Read more
Almost everyone grows a tall bearded iris. Those who class it as one of their favorite flowers have often lamented that its season is too short. Would you believe me if I told you that I had had some form of the iris in bloom in my Denver garden for ten months of the year? … Read more
One would not dream of a well-planned late spring garden without at least a few varieties of iris standing among the aquilegia and peonies. But what was the picture a few weeks earlier? Perhaps a small group of daffodils looked out over the expanse of foliage from later blooming plants, or maybe a smattering of … Read more
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