Iris is a famous flower native to Europe, the Middle East, northern Africa, Asia and North America. They are upright beautiful perennials that grow in vast different areas. The plant also has a faint fragrance, and some may have a more potent fragrance than others.

 

Iris has been divided into two key groups: the rhizomatous, which have rhizomes on or just beneath the soil, and those that grow from bulbs. The first group divides into two further sections, the beardless and bearded (with a distinctive little beard in the flower centre).

 

The flowering stems of Iris are long and erect; they may be simple or branched, solid or hollow, and flattened or have a circular cross-section. The rhizomatous species of Iris usually have 3-10 basal leaves. These leaves are sword-shaped and grow in dense clumps. The bulbous species of Iris have cylindrical basal leaves. The inflorescences are fan-shaped and contain one or more symmetrical, six-lobed flowers. These grow on a pedicel. It has three sepals, which droop downwards and are called falls.

 

Iris flower has a relation with pollinating insects. The shape of the flower and the position of the pollen-receiving and stigmatic surfaces on the outer petals form a landing-stage for a flying insect, which in probing the perianth for nectar, will first come in contact of perianth, three with the stigmatic stamens in one whorl surface which is borne and an ovary formed of three carpals.

 

To cultivate the plant take a well-drained soil, the exception being the water-edge varieties. Add grit and humus to open up heavy clay soils. Pacific coast irises require neutral to acid soil and, unlike most irises, flower equally well in partial shade and full sun.  The plant require: deep watering in dry weather, regular weeding to reduce competition for moisture and nutrients, and fertilizing once or twice each year with 5-10-10 or similar fertilizer. Do not fertilize after mid-August, so plants have time to prepare or “harden off” before winter.

 

Transplant the plant is 2-3 weeks after the finish of blooming. Dig the clump up and pry the rhizomes apart, discarding all shriveled and diseased parts. Stalks which produced flowers this year will not produce again. However they provide food to the new side shoots which will be next summers bloomers, so be sure to leave these new shoots attached to the mother. Cut the leaves back to about 6-7 inches.

The most destructive pests of Iris are the Iris borers. They lay eggs which are laid in fall and hatch early in spring. Then, as tiny caterpillars, they bore through the leaves and eat their way down into the rhizome. As they feed, borers introduce bacteria that cause a soft rot that ultimately turns leaves brown and destroys the plants.

 

Did you know?

·        The plant has about 200-300 species of flowering plants.

·        The mythological Iris was goddess of the rainbow, its name comes from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species.

·        Iris is the state flower of Tennessee.

·        Louisiana Iris and Iris pseudacorus variegate are naturally water or bog plant and are excellent either in or next to ponds.

·        Broadleigh Carolyn is a classic Pacific coast iris with lovely clear blue flowers.