Cutting Edge Bearded Iris
Bearded or German bearded iris are timeless perennials that have consistently flourished in temperate gardens around the globe. Celebrated by artists like Van Gogh and Georgia O’Keeffe, these stunning flowers have been cherished by gardeners across Europe for centuries. Throughout the years, plant breeders have developed thousands of cultivars, further enhancing their diversity and allure. At Phoenix Perennials, we carry many of these rare and cutting edge cultivars.
Striking Leaves and Gorgeous Flowers
With their upright, fan-shaped leaves of pointed, grey-green hues, bearded irises create a striking structural contrast against other garden plants. Their stunning blooms, available in virtually every colour of the rainbow, bring not only beauty but often delightful fragrance from mid-spring to early summer. Some cultivars can rebloom later in the season. Remarkably hardy, these irises thrive in climates as cold as Zone 3, making them accessible to most temperate gardeners.
Bearded irises feature large flowers composed of three upright standards and three downward arching falls, each adorned with a colorful “beard” at its base—rows of soft hairs resembling fuzzy caterpillars. Nestled within the standards are the smaller style arms, which resemble delicate petals and can add to the overall display.
A Spectrum of Colours and Patterns
Iris flowers showcase an incredible diversity of colours and patterns. Some bloom in uniform monochrome, while others feature harmonious shades that transition from top to bottom. In contrast, some irises display entirely different hues and patterns on their standards compared to their falls. Also, their petals may feature delicate veining in contrasting colours, picotee edges, or vibrant glows and flushes of varying shades. The beards, too, range in colour, encompassing white, yellow, orange, red, and blue.
The Evolution of Bearded Iris
Bearded irises are intricate hybrids derived from a variety of wild iris species. The crossing of these species and their hybrids over time has resulted in the impressive array of cultivars we see today. While the primary focus of breeding efforts is on flower colour and patterns, height is also an important characteristic. Bearded irises are classified into distinct size categories:
- Tall Bearded (TB) irises grow to 27 inches or more tall,
- Intermediate Bearded (IB) irises grow to 15-25 inches tall,
- Standard Dwarf Bearded (SDB) irises grow to 9-15 inches tall,
- Miniature Dwarf Bearded (MDB) irises grow to 2-8 inches tall.
Growing and Caring for Bearded Iris
Bearded irises are among the easiest perennials to cultivate, making them ideal for gardeners of all experience levels, from beginners to experts. They thrive in full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct light each day. Thanks to their thick underground rhizomes, they are drought-tolerant and can adapt to soils ranging from poor to average fertility, although they perform best in average to rich soils with adequate moisture.
These resilient plants require minimal care. However, if you notice that clumps are becoming overgrown and the number of flower stems is decreasing each year, it’s a good idea to divide them after flowering. This allows you to reposition them in your garden and share pieces with friends. Dig them up, divide the rhizomes, cut the fans of foliage in half, and replant. Easy!
Give Your Garden the Phoenix Perennials Touch:
At Phoenix Perennials, we proudly offer over 5,000 unique plants each year for in-person shopping at our garden centre and plant nursery in Richmond, British Columbia, part of Greater Vancouver. In addition, we provide more than 3,000 plants annually for mail-order shipping across Canada. Stay connected with our diverse offerings and all things Phoenix Perennials by signing up for our E-Newsletter and Alerts, and by engaging with us on social media. Happy gardening!
