IRIS
IRIS
Named from the Greek for rainbow. It symbolises life and resurrection. It is also thought that the French fleur-de-lys is a representation of this flower.
Genus of about 300 species of upright rhizomatous or bulbous perennials from a wide range of habitats in the northern hemisphere.
Rhizomatous irises have stout rootstocks on or very close to the surface. Bearded irises have rootstocks on the surface, beardless have them just under the surface. The bulbous irises, which also have fleshy roots, fall into 3 groups, Reticulata, Juno and Xiphium.
Water irises (Laevigata) thrive in damp places and include the UK native I. pseudacorus, the yellow flag.
Our other native, I. foetidissima, stinking iris (curious rather than stinking) or gladdon, with its bright orange seeds, is a dull blue or buff-yellow flower of hedgebanks, damp woods and sea cliffs.
Full Plant Details - Sun/Soil & other attributes
-
Good to know
Grown for the colourful, sometimes spectacular flowers. -
Place of origin
Northern hemisphere. -
Deciduous
-
Fully hardy
-
Bulb/Corm or rhizomatous perennialRhizomatous or bulbous perennials
-
Herbaceous
-
harmful if eaten
People and pets, i.e. cats, dogs, rabbits, rodents -
skin irritant
People
-
Rabbit Resistant
View Planting Tips and Care Advice
- Dividing Herbaceous Perennials - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Spring Planting Osteospermums - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Dividing Summer Perennials - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Dividing summer flowering Hemerocallis - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Summer propagation - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Self-seeding aquilegia - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Supporting Plants - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Dead heading meconopsis - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Dead heading Delphiniums - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Feeding herbaceous peonies - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Overpotting Problems - Video Tip ondemand_video
View Planting Combinations
