Bearded iris for the home landscape

Department of Horticultural Science Horticulture Information Leaflet 8506 7/98 Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. BEARDED IRIS FOR THE HOME LANDSCAPE Erv Evans, Extension Associate Bearded iris, Iris germanica, is a hardy, long-lived perennial that require a minimum of maintenance. The flowers have six petals; three upright petals (called standards) and three hanging petals (called falls). A fuzzy line or beard runs down the middle of each fall. Flowers come in many colors including blue, pink, purple, reddish, white, yellow, and bi-colors. Most bearded iris flower in the spring (April to June depending on cultivar), but some of the new cultivars reflower in the summer and fall. The second flower display is not as showy as the spring display but last into the fall. Many re¬ blooming iris are fragrant. Bearded irises are classified into several types: miniature dwarf (height 8 inch or less, 1 to 2 inch diameter flowers), standard dwarf (height 8 to 1 5 inches), intermediate (height 16 to 27 inches), miniature tall (height 16 to 25 inches, small flowers), border (height 16 to 27 inches), and tall (height 28 to 38 inches). The shorter iris flower first, followed by the intermediate, and then the taller irises. Cultivars There are thousands of bearded iris cultivars to choose from. Some of the best performing cultivars are listed below. Spring-flowering cultivars Miniature dwarf iris Standard dwarf iris Intermediate iris Miniature tall iris Border iris Tall iris Bantam (ruffled deep red- purple). Scribe (white with blue edging). Zipper (golden yellow with blue beards) Bay Ruffles (ruffled light blue), Software (pinkish cream edged in apricot). Starlight Waltz (ruffled cream), Violet Lulu (soft violet), Watercolor (yellow standards with brown falls) Baby Blue Marine (light blue). Brighten Up (orange with coral beards), Piece of Cake (pink with orchid mark¬ ings). Red Zinger (deep red) Chickee (ruffled deep yellow). Disco Jewel (reddish- brown with violet), Loreley (yellow and violet) New Wave (clear white), Rosemary’s Dream (white and orchid) Just Jennifer (white), Pink Bubbles (pink), Predictions (pink standards with falls), Tulare (yellow) Beverly Sills (pink). Crystal Glitters (cream and peach), Darkside (purple), Fringe Benefits (orange). Lullaby of Spring (yellow and lavender). Silver Fizz (orchid), Spinning Wheel (blue standards), Venus and Mars (violet) North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE & LIFE SCIENCES