For many years, the strain of bulbous iris called “Dutch” iris has been limited to three or four colors in which blue was very dominant.
Dutch Iris Varieties
WEDGWOOD, a light blue-flowered variety with narrow yellow signals on the falls, was one of the most popular and widely used.
Its adaptability for greenhouse forcing made it a favorite of florists. Next to Wedgwood in popularity were (dark blue) YELLOW QUEEN (light yellow), WHITE EXELSIOR (rather short white), and a few others.
Their demand came mainly from commercial flower growers and florists. However, the lack of variation in colors and varieties kept this graceful flower from real popularity with the amateur gardener.
However, this situation has changed radically during the last 4 to 5 years. Wide varieties with entirely new and fascinating colors, thus far unknown in Dutch iris, have been introduced and are now available.
They deserve the attention of every flower lover and have outstanding possibilities for border planting and flower arrangements.
History of Dutch Iris
The history of the “Dutch” iris began in 1564 when the Belgium horticulturist Clusius journeyed through Spain and became acquainted with two varieties of the iris that grew native in that country.
He called him Iris xiphium (blue) and Iris lusitanica (yellow) in his publications. He sent bulbs of these iris strains to several of his friends in Belgium, who planted them in their gardens.
They acquired new varieties through hybridizing, most of which disappeared through the years.
Hybridizing Iris
Hundreds of years later, at the end of the 19th century, several of the foremost bulb-growing nurseries in Holland started hybridizing on a larger scale, using these originally Spanish iris species and Iris tingitana.
They attained a new type of iris, which produced larger and broader flowers than the “Spanish iris” and bloomed earlier. This type was called the “Dutch iris.”
The before-mentioned varieties Wedgwood (De Graaff) and Imperator (Van Tubergen) came out of these early crosses.
More varieties were introduced through the years, but it was late in the thirties before a much wider color range was acquired.
New Additions of Iris
World War II prevented the introduction of these new additions in the United States at that time.
However, since 1946, stocks have been imported and are now grown commercially, mainly in the Pacific Northwest.
- JOAN OF ARC is a new creamy white of enormous size.
- WHITE PEARL is a very attractive pure white.
- WHITE PERFECTION is also pure white and of good form.
Yellow Shades of Iris
Some of the greatest improvements were made in the yellow shades. They now vary from light lemon yellow to almost pure orange.
In the light shades, LEMON QUEEN is outstanding; LEMON WONDER is also very desirable, the latter being larger and a slightly darker color.
The flowers of ALASKA and BELLE JAUNE are among the darker yellows, Belle Jaune being somewhat larger.
PRINCESS BEATRIX beats both of them in size and length of stem and has an almost red flush on its falls.
Different Color Varieties
ORANGE KING is a novelty yet and is the closest to orange ever seen in Dutch iris. I still remember my father’s excitement when he found this variety’s first flower among his seedlings.
There are two varieties with a very striking combination of orange-yellow falls and white standards in PRINCESS IRENE and GOLD AND SILVER. The latter is very new and surpasses Princess Irene in strength and height.
The blue varieties vary from orchid-lavender to purple-violet. KING MAUVE and MAUVE QUEEN represent the orchid shades, the former slightly darker and both very large.
One of the greatest advances in blue is BLUE CHAMPION, enormous in size and brilliant in color.
DELFT BLUE resembles the former in the shape of a flower and plant but is more delicate in color.
In the purple-blue shades are three desirable varieties. NATIONAL VELVET is American-born (hybridizer: Carl Salbach, California).
In color, it comes close to BLUE PEARL, both being a very attractive purple-blue. PROFESSOR BLAAUW (Blue Ribbon) belongs in this same class but is even deeper colored.
Smoky Varieties
Entirely new in Dutch iris are the bronze or “smoky” varieties. They tire gaining fast in popularity with garden enthusiasts.
Some are one-toned bronze in color (but always with a yellow signal patch, as this is characteristic of Dutch iris), as LE MOCOT and ANKARA.
Le Mogol is the more well-known of the two. BRONZE BEAUTY combines blue standards, and bronze falls with orange-yellow signals.
BRONZE QUEEN is somewhat similar but not as heavily accented. Finally, quite fascinating is HARMONY with its blue standards and olive yellow falls covered with orange.
Dutch iris is easy to grow. They are fairly frost-hardy, although, in climates where the temperature goes below zero, it is advisable to cover them with straw or leaf mold during the winter months.
Planting Time in Autumn
In these areas, it is also a good thing to dig them after the foliage dies down and keep them in a cool and dry place until planting time in autumn.
In states where the climate is warmer, digging Dutch iris every year is unnecessary. They will just ripen off in summer and come up again in fall.
Dutch iris like plenty of moisture and prefer a sunny spot in the garden. Well-drained soil will make them thrive.
For gardeners with a small greenhouse or cold frame at their disposal, the Dutch iris provides excellent material for early spring flowering.
44659 by Henry J. Degoede