Once they were called flags. Gardening books call them irises and earlier they were known as the fleur-de-lis, a name of royal derivation dating back to the time of Louis VII, who chose the iris for his coat of arms during the Second Crusade.
By any name though, irises are essential to our spring landscapes. That iris clumps can be seen around old abandoned buildings in both cities and rural areas is testimony to the flower’s long popularity.
Today’s gardener may relish hundreds of species that tempt — and bewilder — the novice gardener who wants to tuck a rhizome or two or three into a landscape.
For iris lovers, the blooming season always seems too brief. Selecting various species will offer flowers from early March, with the cheerful little yellow or blue iris reticulata, until July, when the Siberian iris stars.
Most people, however, are dazzled by the intermediate and tall bearded irises that astonish in a full spectrum of colors that includes every shade and variation of yellow, blue, pink, maroon, an almost-black and light brown.
Hybridizers continue to develop colors that are ever more bold and pure. Ruffled flowers with lacelike edges are popular. Hybridizers are also working toward new color combinations and patterns, including some striking ones that are white at the center with color increasing away from the center, says Stephen Blecher, president of the Mountains and Plains Iris Society.
With their striking colors, ruffles and lace edges, these irises make dramatic statements when planted in clumps or borders.
Blecher recommends also trying the smaller standard dwarf bearded irises that bloom earlier than the tall bearded ones and that have received renewed attention from hybridizers for better form and unique colors and patterns. A new one developed by hybridizer Paul Black is “Cat’s Eye.” This vigorous iris is rose-colored with a large zone of dark red on the falls.
Summer heralds the beardless Siberian, Spuria and Japanese irises. These all prefer more moisture than the earlier bloomers and like some shade protection from Colorado’s hot afternoon summer sun.
Reblooming irises excite interest among iris lovers but, sadly, they don’t really thrive here. Blecher suggests trying two that might offer some success: “Champagne Elegance,” which is a standard near-white, and “Bolder Boulder,” which is violet with cream standards and is also a Colorado introductional.
Although irises are undemanding plants, full glory requires careful preparation of the initial soil site with lots of quality organic matter worked into the soil.
Fertilizing with a general-purpose slow-release nitrogen fertilizer should be done in early spring after the beds are cleaned of dried leaves and stems.
A common mistake is planting too deeply. The white roots emerging from the thick rhizome should be spread horizontally in a shallow, wide planting area and then covered lightly with about only 2 inches of soil.
Finally, irises need to be divided every three years to guarantee full blooming.
With proper care this flower, beloved by a king, will also take its royal place in our landscapes.
Sale after the bloom
The Mountains & Plains Iris Society Sale
When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 25
Where: Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton
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