Gerald L. Klingaman
Family
Iridaceae
Botanical Name
Iris
Plant Common Name
Iris
General Description
One of the most beloved of genera for the garden, Iris comprises several hundred species and literally thousands of cultivars. These vary widely in shape, size, color and habitat and are naturally distributed across much of the Northern Hemisphere and Africa.
Iris species are all perennial and may be evergreen or seasonal ephemerals and are either born from bulbs or slow-spreading bulbous rhizomes. Foliage varies but is always upright and may be grassy, strap-like or sword-shaped. Plants are most distinguished by their large, distinct flowers which come in several different forms. Overall, they fan out and are comprised of six distinct petals. Often three of these petals curve upwards, and are called standards, while the other three curve downwards, and are called falls. In addition, some species have may have fuzzy pads at the base of the falls, called beards, or crested protrusions, called crests. Those that lack beards or crests are referred to as “beardless.”
Iris flowers are large, fragrant, highly attractive to bees and may be purple, blue, yellow, orange, orange-red, pink, white, maroon, or even brown. Bicolored blooms are also very common.
Hardiness and culture are species dependent, but most Iris are temperate, prefer full to part sun and rich soil with average drainage. Iris are outstanding garden plants, whether they be species fit for rock gardens, like Iris reticulata, woodlands, like Iris cristata or water gardens, like Iris pseudacorus. Then of course there is the classic tall bearded iris, which will make any early season garden shine!
There are sixteen classifications for cultivated Iris. These are:
1. Aril Iris
Bearded Iris Classifications:
2. Miniature Dwarf Bearded
3. Standard Dwarf Bearded
4. Intermediate Bearded
5. Border Bearded
6. Miniature Tall Bearded
7. Tall Bearded
Beardless Iris Classifications:
8. Spuria Iris
9. Siberian Iris
10. Japanese Iris
11. Louisianas Iris
12. Pacific Coast Natives
13. Species
