Article: Plants to love this week: Bearded Iris
Plants to love this week: Bearded Iris
There are some flowers that arrive quietly, and then there is the bearded iris.
Standing tall above its foliage, petals ruffled and slightly theatrical, the iris has a way of announcing spring before the rest of the garden has quite caught up. It is one of those plants that can stop you mid-wander, particularly when the first flowers begin opening after winter.
And then there is the colour. Bearded iris come in an extraordinary range, from soft creams and buttery yellows to dusky mauves, deep purples and shades that seem to contain several colours at once. Planted together, they can turn an ordinary stretch of garden into something wonderfully painterly.
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Why we love bearded iris
Perhaps it is the ruffles. Perhaps it is their upright, almost flag-like presence in the garden. Either way, there is something rather joyful about seeing an iris in full flower.
They have enough character to stand alone, but we particularly love them planted in drifts through a border, weaving between other spring favourites. Roses make especially good company, allowing the iris their moment before the garden moves into the next flush of the season.
When to plant bearded iris
If bearded iris are on your planting list, the rhizome is the important bit to remember.
Unlike plants that like their roots tucked well beneath the soil, the iris rhizome should sit proud rather than being buried. Letting it remain exposed at the surface gives it the conditions it needs to put on that spring display.
It feels slightly contrary the first time you plant one, gardeners are so accustomed to tucking things safely into the earth, but this is one occasion where resisting the urge to bury it pays off.
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When are they at their best?
Spring is their grand season.
Just as the garden begins gathering momentum again, bearded iris send their flowers upwards and bring a welcome rush of colour to beds and borders. Some may even offer an encore in autumn, giving you another unexpected moment to enjoy them later in the year.
Where do bearded iris grow?
One reason they are so easy to fall for is their adaptability.
Bearded iris can grow across a remarkably broad range of Australian gardens, coastal or inland, warmer or cooler. That makes them a tempting choice when you want something with real presence without restricting it to one particular style of garden or climate.
How we use them
We love bearded iris planted generously rather than dotted about apologetically.
Give them a little company and let them form loose drifts through a border, particularly amongst roses. When those sculptural flowers begin appearing through the bed, spring suddenly feels very much underway.
LE SAC GARDEN ESSENTIALS
And really, isn't that half the pleasure of gardening? Waiting months for something you planted to finally lift its head above the foliage and remind you exactly why you put it there.
Save this one for spring planting inspiration and tell us, which iris colour would you make room for?
More about bearded Iris: Three Tips for Growing Healthy Bearded Iris
