Irises with narrow leaves. The best varieties of irises for landscape design. Irises in landscape design

Irises are unusually beautiful flowers that adorn the area around the house and garden plots. Most species bloom by early summer, although there are "late" varieties. Flower growers fell in love with irises largely due to the variety of bright colors and unusual shape.

Irises are unusually beautiful flowers that decorate the area around the house and garden plots.

Irises (popular names: "Kasatiki" and "Petushki") are flowering plants from the genus of the same name and the Iris family. Botany knows about 800 species. Irises have long been used in the design of plots, because the appearance of flowers, remotely similar to orchids, is truly unique.

The main attraction of the iris is its whimsical flower. It consists of 6 petals: the lower ones are bent to the ground, and the upper ones rush to the sky. Impressive variety of colors which can be monophonic, but more often motley. No wonder the plant is called "iris", which in Greek means "rainbow". Flowers can shimmer in different shades. Many species have a contrasting "eye" spot on the lower petal. Often the flowers are decorated with a delicate fringe around the edges.

Irises are flowering plants from the genus of the same name and the Iris family.

Irises are characterized by the presence of a rhizome, from which short roots depart. The stems can be located singly, less often - in small bunches. At the base, they are surrounded by several elongated sword-shaped leaves with a waxy coating. They are very thin, and because of the hard edges, they can even cut themselves.

In the wild, irises are found in regions of the Northern Hemisphere with a temperate and subtropical climate. There are especially many of them in the Mediterranean region, in the territory of South-Western and Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, etc.). It is from there that most of the ornamental species grown today in flower beds originate. Irises love the sun, so they grow mainly in the fields, in the semi-steppe zone, on the bright edges of forests or mountain slopes.

Types of irises (video)

Blue and blue varieties and types of irises

Garden flowers are very attractive, the petals of which are painted in various shades of blue: from rich dark to azure. German iris has many such varieties.

The most popular of them is the Baltic Sea: it has solid blue petals with a light groove. The “calling card” of this variety is the strong corrugation of the petals along the edges. This is a large plant, the height of which reaches almost 1 m. Up to 9 buds are formed on one peduncle. Due to the high density of Baltic Sea petals, its flowers can easily withstand bad weather: strong wind and rain.

Other varieties:

Cosmic dance- deep blue petals with purple undertones. The height of the plant reaches about 90 cm. Like the Baltic Sea, its petals are strongly corrugated.
Abiqua Falls differs in monophonic blue color with a sapphire shade. Height - about 1 m. The variety is considered one of the best among the "heavenly" irises. In addition, it has other advantages: an enviable resistance to diseases and rapid growth.
Absolute Treasure- another "heavenly" view. But he, unlike Abiqua Falls, has an uneven color: a light spot flaunts on the lower petal with a gradient transition to blue. The golden grooves on the flowers are pronounced. Absolute Treasure can be called a giant: its branching peduncles rise above the ground to a height of up to 107 cm.

Gallery: iris flowers (61 photos)

Purple and lilac varieties of irises

Irises with purple color are no less beautiful. Here are some of these varieties:

ACCESSIBLE, belonging to the bearded irises. All petals are bright purple. The uniqueness of the variety lies in the presence of the lower petals of an almost black spot (foul) with a velvety texture. Brick grooves add brightness to the colors, which makes this iris one of the most unusual varieties.
About Town with wavy edges of the lower petals (bright purple) and corrugated upper ones (light lilac). This combination is diluted with orange grooves. This variety, which is 90-100 cm tall, is also colorful, but more delicate than ACCESSIBLE.
Autumn Jester- dwarf (not higher than 40 cm) dark purple variety, blooming in August in the conditions of the Moscow region. Excellent for the first level of mixborders, "solo" planting in groups and decoration of borders in the garden.
"Black dragon" distinguishes the inky color of large flowers, reaching 15 cm in diameter. The color of the petals is monophonic, it can cast purple or blue. A plant of medium height - about 1 m. Feels great in the conditions of the middle lane, because the variety is characterized by frost resistance.
blue sapphire with a bright azure color.

No less beautiful are irises with a purple color.

Botanical description of white irises

White irises planted in a flower bed look elegant and attractive. Their white color adds to the appearance of tenderness and airiness.

Most of the varieties of white irises belong to the German variety, which in turn belongs to the "bearded iris". All of them are distinguished by the presence of villi-fringes on the petals, for which they were named so by biologists. The height, color and characteristics of the varieties are different for each. Thanks to artificial selection, plants with a unique look and high decorative characteristics, undemanding in care, have appeared. Here some of them:

elegant "The Snow Queen" with white petals and a yellow base. This is a medium-sized plant: the height of the peduncle is about 70 cm. The flowers are moderately corrugated.
Immortali- a variety with snow-white, moderately corrugated flowers of large size: they are able to reach a diameter of 18 cm, which is almost a record for irises. Other advantages of "Immortal" - abundant flowering, starting in May. Peduncles grow to about 1 m.
"Bianca"- undersized iris up to 60 cm. The flower is completely white. Its flowering falls on the border of spring and summer. Among all varieties, one of the most photophilous, so "Bianca" can be planted in open areas without fear.
All Aflutter distinguished by a pale blue border on white petals and brick grooves. Fairly tall plant growing up to 90 cm in height.

How irises breed (video)

Beautiful red and pink varieties of irises

Red and pink irises rise like bright clouds above the flower beds. The intensity of their coloring and coloring directly depends on the variety, and indirectly - on growing conditions, especially illumination. Here are 5 of them:

Alice Goodman- a variety of medium-late flowering (it occurs approximately in July). Its petals have a rich pink color with a lighter, sometimes almost completely white foul. The final "touch" is coral grooves. The flowers are large, corrugated - their edges are decorated with wide "frills". The height of the plant is a little over 80 cm.
Medici Prince- high grade: the stems stretch up to 1 m. Each of them produces up to 14 buds, so the duration of flowering of Medici Prince is one of the longest of all garden irises, lasting an average of 1.5–2 months. The flowers are crimson, with a bright burgundy foul.
Persian Berry boasts a lilac-crimson overflow and soft corrugation. The height of the peduncle is 85–90 cm.
Spice Lord- an unusual variety: white falls flaunt on its red petals, and the base is salmon.
Raptor Red- a bright variety with a red color. Large flowers rise above the ground by 85 cm.

Alice Goodman - mid-late flowering cultivar

Names and descriptions of yellow irises

Of course, it is impossible not to notice the yellow irises. Their color is associated with the sun and gives a good mood. There are a lot of yellow varieties of iris. 4 beautiful examples:

- a variety of medium early flowering, reaching a height of 90 cm. The petals are yellow, on their surface there are original burgundy blotches, similar to stripes and splashes of paint diverging from the center.
ADD IT UP- a typical representative of dwarf irises, the stems of which do not grow above 35 cm. The color is light yellow, depending on growing conditions: it can be more peach. Petals adorn shaggy tangerine-colored beards with a blue tip.
BATTERUP- yellow petals are decorated with a wide white foul. Blooms by early June. The height of an adult stem is about 90 cm.
maui moonlight- an unusual lemon variety without interspersing other colors. It grows rapidly and blooms for a long time. Despite its beauty, it is recognized by flower growers as unpretentious. Average height - up to 60 cm.

Irises Butter up - yellow petals are decorated with a wide white foul

Irises in landscape design

The beauty of irises is difficult to spoil with the wrong placement, but they will be more advantageous if you think about their location in the garden and combination with other flowers. You need to focus on their height and color.

In a prefabricated flower garden, tall varieties should be planted in the "background" or in the middle tier when creating a mixborder. Both coniferous, for example, juniper) and deciduous ones, for example, spirea or barberry, are suitable for the background for the irises themselves. When planting two-color irises, you need to make sure that there are not a large number of flowering plants of various shades nearby, otherwise the flower garden will look too colorful, and the individual beauty of its inhabitants will be lost in the general riot of colors.

Dwarf irises are planted along the paths, as well as in rockeries and alpine slides. Blue and yellow varieties look especially impressive in combination with gray stones. If there is an artificial reservoir on the site, then its banks will be a great place to land. It is only necessary to prevent stagnation of moisture at the roots. Another option is a flower bed exclusively with irises. By combining varieties, you can achieve interesting color transitions and harmonious combinations.

How to transplant irises (video)

Irises are versatile yet very beautiful ornamental flowers. Their diversity and elegant appearance surprise even experienced flower growers. In total, there are 60,000 varieties of this ornamental plant, and about a hundred new ones are bred every year.

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Recently, lovers of perennial iris flowers are increasingly cultivating beardless varieties. But fans of the classics prefer the cultivation of bearded irises - beautiful and strict flowers with a massive petal in the form of a "tongue" or "beard", which is a distinctive feature of this plant, its "highlight". By grouping varieties of irises by flowering time, you can provide decorativeness from May to July.

In nature, there is a flower that smoothly leads us from spring to summer. First, in early spring, wild irises bloom, they are replaced by "bearded" dwarfs and Spuria, and by the end of May the garden shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow thanks to the numerous varieties of tall bearded irises. In June, marking the arrival of summer, we are delighted with their elegance Siberian and Japanese.

The perennial plant iris belongs to the iris family, or iris. There are about 200 species growing in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America. In the XX century. irises have received wide recognition from flower growers in most countries, and in terms of the number of varieties (more than 35 thousand), this culture has come to one of the first places.

You can judge how the iris looks even from the most ancient frescoes. The history of the flower goes back centuries. Irises were cultivated in the gardens of the Egyptian pharaohs. In ancient Greece, they planted entire fields. Because of the variety of colors, the plant was given the name "iris", which in Greek means "rainbow". The ancient Hellenes were in awe of irises and considered them messengers of the golden-winged goddess Irida, the messenger of the gods, the interpreter of their will.

Irises attracted people not only with their beautiful flowers. They were valued as medicinal plants, perfumery and confectionery raw materials.

irises- perennial rhizomatous plants. The rhizome is located parallel to the soil level at a shallow depth and in bearded irises comes to the surface. The rhizome, containing a supply of nutrients, consists of annual links. The newly formed links end with a bunch of sessile leaves that die off annually. The leaves are broadly or narrowly xiphoid, straight or crescent-curved, most often collected in a fan-shaped bundle. They are usually light green in spring, darkening in summer.

And what is the difference between the description of bearded irises of hybrid varieties? In these plants, the leaves are usually gray with a wax coating and, as a rule, persist until late autumn. Therefore, irises decorate the garden not only during flowering.

Peduncles branch and carry from 1 to 10 flowers or more. The number of branches depends on the species and variety. The height of the stem in different species varies greatly - from 15 cm in dwarf iris to 2 m in marsh.

The flowers, distinguished by extraordinary grace and sophistication, consist of 6 perianth lobes arranged in two tiers: three outer petals are bent down, and three inner petals are raised up and form a dome. Perianth segments are deployed in such a way that any detail of each "petal" is visible. And what do bearded iris flowers look like? On their lower petals are soft bristly outgrowths resembling a beard, which gave the name to the group.

The iris flower is remarkable for its sparkling, mysterious brilliance of petals, especially noticeable in the oblique rays of the sun or under electric lighting. This is due to the peculiar structure of cells that focus light, like miniature optical lenses. No wonder in the old days some gems of iridescent color were called irises.

The color of the flowers is unusually diverse. There are solemnly velvety, mysterious black irises, but no less mysterious is the sparkling brilliance of white and light blue flowers, reminiscent of the transparency of ice or crystal. And between white and black - a whole range of blue, purple, pink, yellow, reddish and even brown shades. Neither painting nor photography fully conveys the play of color, texture, graceful lines of these flowers. No wonder irises are compared with.

See how the iris looks in the photo to once again enjoy the beauty of this plant:

Conditions for growing bearded irises

Now it's time to learn how irises are grown in personal plots. For hybrid bearded irises, sunny places are selected, protected from strong winds. They can tolerate light partial shade from trees. Most varieties have very large flowers, for which gusts of wind with rain are especially dangerous. Therefore, during the period of mass flowering in windy, rainy weather, garter of peduncles is required.

Another important condition for growing irises is the presence of light, loamy soil. If the soil on the site is heavy, it needs to be improved by adding sand and peat. Wood ash is added to acidic soils. Before planting, the site should be dug up on a shovel bayonet and carefully remove all weeds. The rotted manure is applied to a depth of 20-25 cm without mixing it with the ground.

Irises are afraid of excessive moisture, so they grow best in areas with a low standing groundwater. However, during the period of budding and flowering, they show an increased need for water. Good watering at this time helps to prolong flowering and creates favorable conditions for pollination. Watering is best done in the evening.

The faded flowers of bearded irises are removed, and the flower stalks are completely broken out at the end of flowering. In late autumn, the leaves are shortened to 10 cm. Plants are covered with a small layer of mulch for the winter. Frost-resistant varieties are covered more carefully. In the spring, after the snow has melted, the compacted winter shelter is carefully stirred. It is completely removed in early or mid-April, depending on weather conditions. Bearded irises, despite their southern origin, tolerate spring frosts quite well compared to other perennials with temperatures dropping to -5 ... -7 ° С.

How to plant irises and how to care for them

And how to plant irises in order to ensure their violent growth? Plants propagate by rhizomes. To do this, the root is dug up, divided into planting units, the so-called divisions, each of which consists of 1-3 annual units. Before planting irises, root sections are treated with crushed charcoal or potassium permanganate solution.

When is the best time to plant irises so that they sprout on time? The optimal time for planting irises is 2 weeks after flowering. With a clod of earth, they can be transplanted at any time. However, late planting (later September 10-15) leads to poor rooting of plants. When planting, it is important that the delenka is not buried. The rhizome is located almost at the level of the soil surface. A mound of earth is poured at the bottom of the hole and the roots are evenly spread along its slopes, covered with earth and pressed tightly with hands. Plentifully watered with water, once again check whether the delenka is planted firmly enough. The rhizome should be horizontal, and the leaf fan should be slightly sloping. Tall and medium-sized irises are planted at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other, and undersized - 15-20 cm.

Landing links are positioned so that there is room for "movement". The root system of irises is directed forward (along the growth of the rhizome), and the planted delenka will continue to grow with that part where the leaf fan is located. When nesting planting irises, the plane of the leaves should be directed across the outlined circle.

If the soil is clayey and does not pass water well, it is recommended to plant the delenka on a “pillow” of sand or fine gravel so that the water does not stagnate and the rhizome does not rot. When planting, the rhizome is not buried, but only sprinkled with a layer of earth no more than 2-3 cm - over time, it will come to the surface on its own.

After planting irises, when caring for plants, top dressing is carried out at least three times. There are no universal recommendations on how to care for irises in terms of fertilizer, but one rule must be firmly remembered: excessive feeding is detrimental to plants. The first top dressing is carried out in the spring, immediately after removing the shelter (nitrogen-phosphorus - 3: 1), the second after 2-3 weeks (nitrogen-potassium - 1: 1). At the end of flowering, nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (3:1:3) is added. The last top dressing is very important for a good flowering of irises next year, it should not be skipped. Top dressing is carried out at the rate of 10 liters of solution per 1 m2, or for 6 iris bushes. During the summer, the soil around the plants is lightly sprinkled 1-3 times with ash, which is not only top dressing, but also repels pests and prevents diseases.

Here you can see photos of planting and caring for irises of various groups:

Now that you know how to care for irises, check out the most popular varieties.

Varieties of bearded irises with photos, names and flowering periods

Bearded irises are divided into 3 groups according to height: undersized (25-36 cm), medium-sized (37-70 cm), tall (more than 70 cm).

According to the timing of flowering, varieties are divided into early, mid-early, medium, medium-late and late. The beginning of flowering of each of these subgroups may vary in different years depending on weather conditions. For example, in the Moscow region, early varieties of bearded irises bloom in mid-May and bloom until the end of the month. Medium-early bloom in the last five days of May and finish flowering in the first decade of June. Medium and mid-late varieties that prevail in our gardens bloom throughout June. Late varieties that bloom in early July are rarely grown.

According to the color of the flower, irises are divided into 13 classes: white, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, red-violet, black, two-tone, two-tone, bordered, iridescent.

It should be noted that the green color of irises has a yellowish or brownish tint. There are no varieties with a scarlet, pure red color: irises have brown, terracotta, cherry shades. Pink irises are classified as light red. Brown is classified as dark orange. Black has blue, purple, brown, dark cherry shades and is characterized by a special depth and velvety.

Below you will see photos and names of varieties of bearded irises that have bloomed since mid-May, as well as read their descriptions.

"Arkady Raikin". This variety of iris got its name in honor of the great Russian comedian. Peduncle 80-100 cm, strong, short-branched, 5-7-flowered. Flower 12-13 cm, delicate reddish-pink color, the outer lobes are semi-drooping, the inner ones are slightly corrugated along the edges, the aroma is strong.

"Beverly Hills". The height of the bush is 50 cm, the peduncles are 80-85 cm. In the inflorescence there are 3-4 very showy flowers with a diameter of 17 cm. The upper perianth lobes are light pink, very wavy, the lower ones are paler, soaring. The beard is pink.

Blue Staccato. The height of the bush is 55-60 cm, peduncles - 90-100 cm. In the inflorescence 4-5 very showy flowers with a diameter of 16 cm.

Pay attention to the photo of bearded iris flowers of this variety - the upper perianth lobes are blue-blue, wavy, slightly fringed, the lower ones are white with a blurred blue border, the beard is golden yellow:

"Burgomaster". The height of the peduncles is 100-110 cm. There are 5-7 flowers in the inflorescence. The outer lobes are purple-lilac with a brownish border, the inner ones are yellowish-cream. The beauty of the flower is emphasized by graceful corrugation.

"Guards". Peduncle 125-140 cm, strong, long-branched, 10-12-flowered. Flower 14-15 cm, sunny yellow with an orange beard, aroma strong, honey.

Canada Gold. Peduncle 90-105 cm, strong, short-branched. The flower is light golden yellow with an orange beard, the aroma is strong. It blooms profusely, the bush grows quickly.

"Supreme Sultan". It has a powerful bush with strong peduncles up to 120 cm high and more. It has the largest flowers to date (more than 20 cm in diameter). This variety of bearded iris belongs to the two-colored: the inner lobes are bronze-yellow, the outer ones are red-brown, velvety. It is distinguished by excellent corrugation and unusual bubble edges of the petals.

"Kentaki Derby". The height of the bush is 50 cm, the peduncles are 80-90 cm. In the inflorescence there are 5-6 flowers with a diameter of 16 cm. The perianth segments are light lemon-yellow, wavy, with fringed edges, on the lower ones there is a creamy white spot in the center. The beard is golden.

These flowers attract gardeners and specialists in the design of gardens and cottages with their exquisite beauty, variety of shapes and colors. And even despite the rather limited flowering period, bearded irises have long been favorites of landscape design.

However, not all plants of this species can boast of such a status. Dwarf bearded irises, unfortunately, today are undeservedly deprived of attention. And it’s completely in vain: these flowers may well give odds to their higher counterparts, since they can be used not only in flower beds and flower beds, they look great in rockeries and as a pot culture.

Dwarf irises: description

These amazing plants do not exceed forty centimeters in height, although often these crops reach only twenty centimeters. Despite such a rather modest size, their flowers are as large and bright as those of traditional species. And they are not deprived of a variety of shapes and colors. And even such a “beard” beloved by gardeners and their abundant flowering are not inferior to high representatives of the family.

As a rule, two or three flowers bloom on one peduncle, but a large number of flowering shoots compensates for the density of the bushes. The only difference between these plants is the height of the flower stalks and leaves. This, if I may say so, is a miniature copy of traditional species, but this does not affect the size of the flowers at all. But the endurance and unpretentiousness of dwarf irises is much more pronounced. Small bushes open up new and often unexpected possibilities in the design of gardens and cottages.

All varieties of dwarf irises are divided into two categories:

standard dwarfs - Standard Dwarf Bearded;
miniature dwarfs - Miniature Dwarf Bearded.

Advantages of dwarf varieties

If you are interested in undersized varieties of irises (you can see the photo in this article), you should know about their advantages:

already in the second year, the budding of dwarf irises begins, which allows you to arrange a beautiful flower bed in a short time;
small bushes bloom two weeks earlier than their tall "relatives", and have many buds;
dwarf irises are distinguished not only by colorful inflorescences, but also by spectacular foliage, which does not lose its decorative effect throughout the season.

Popular varieties of dwarf irises

This variety of irises was cultivated recently, about a hundred years ago, but despite this, breeders now offer a huge number of varieties of these spectacular plants.

wink

Iris dwarf white. Its inner petals are snow-white, and the lower lobes are bluish. The stem is 23 centimeters high, two buds 5x9 cm in size appear on one peduncle.

cry baby

Irises are dwarf with large flowers of pale blue color. During flowering, the petals fade a little in the sun, becoming almost white. The stem reaches a height of twenty-eight centimeters and one to three beautiful buds appear on it.

Puppet

Gorgeous lavender dwarf iris. Its petals have brown veins. The peduncle of this plant grows up to thirty centimeters and produces up to three buds measuring 5x11 cm.

Sapphire Gem

This dwarf iris, the photo of which we have posted below, is distinguished by an exquisite deep blue color with a white groove on the petals. The buds are medium in size (6x10 cm), the stem is about thirty-five centimeters high. Up to four flowers bloom on one peduncle.

"Little Shadow"

The height of the bush can vary from 20 to 40 centimeters. Violet-blue velvety flowers open in May-June. The petals have a dark blue beard. This variety blooms again in August. Prefers garden drained soil. Dwarf iris "Little Shadow" does not tolerate stagnant moisture.

For active flowering, good lighting is necessary. In snowless frosty winters, additional shelter is required. Used in the design of borders and mixborders.

little dream

Very delicate dwarf iris with rather large flowers (6.5x11.5 cm). The petals are pale lilac, the beard is blue. The stem grows up to 35 cm and produces up to three flowers.

"Kats ai"

An iris with a very interesting color: dark pink petals with a large dark cherry spot. Plant height 30 cm. The leaves are broad-linear, bluish in color. When planting, the roots of this plant deepen a little and mulch on the surface.

The dwarf iris "cats ai" blooms in April-May, a little earlier than many species. It needs nutrient-rich light soils with a neutral reaction, sun and quiet, wind-sheltered places. It is used for decorating terraces in spring, mainly planted in ceramic bowls.

Carats

The yellow dwarf iris of this variety attracts gardeners with a yellow-orange tint of petals. The white beard closer to the tips acquires a reddish tint. This variety, created in 1994, is like a gold bar, filled with sunshine from the inside.

Growing irises

If you grew tall varieties of these plants on your site, then planting dwarf irises will not cause you any problems. First you need to choose a site for landing. Dwarf varieties love space and sun, only under these conditions will they delight you with bright buds.

Set up a flower bed in the brightest and most open area, where there is a lot of sunlight throughout the day.

The soil

This culture loves breathable, nutritious and light soil. If the soil in your garden is not loose enough, we recommend mixing it with sand. For acidic soil, alkaline substances are needed: lime, ash, etc. Good drainage is required, which will not allow excess moisture to stagnate in the soil and cause root rot.

Planting irises in the ground

Dwarf irises are planted in the warm season: from the first days of April to mid-August. The advantage of these plants is that they perfectly tolerate any transplants and take root quite quickly and easily in a new place. Having picked up a site for planting, dig the soil to a depth of about twenty-five centimeters and apply potash, phosphorus, and nitrogen fertilizers to it. One square meter should account for twenty grams of phosphorus and potassium and ten grams of nitrogen.

Before planting, cuttings of irises should be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate for two hours. This procedure will help reduce the risk of various diseases. The seedlings are lowered into the hole so that the root neck is above the soil level. The first five days, young plants are watered abundantly if the weather is very hot. Two to three hours after watering, the soil must be carefully loosened, trying not to damage the roots.

The soil around the bushes can be mulched, but this must be done very carefully, given the fact that these plants do not like organic mulch, grass, tree bark and other plant materials. Coarse-grained sand or small pebbles are more suitable for this purpose.

Miniature Iris Care

These are unpretentious plants that do not require complex care. In the spring they are fed before the start of budding with potassium-phosphorus compounds. They will help the plants form large and beautiful buds. To stimulate flowering, you should use the following scheme:

nitrogen-potassium fertilizers are applied in early spring;
twenty days later, phosphorus and nitrogen are introduced into the soil;
when the plants bloom, they will need mineral compounds.

During the season, it is necessary to cut off faded buds, and when flowering is completed, flower stalks are completely removed. At the very end of the season, the irises are cut, cutting the leaves to 10 cm. About once every four years, the irises should be divided and seated. To do this, first cut the leaves at a level of seven centimeters from the soil surface, then dig up the roots and divide them into parts. It is important that at least one or two leaf rosettes remain on each fragment.

Reproduction of irises: vegetative method

This is the easiest and most popular way to propagate irises. We discussed this procedure above. It is carried out at any time, but it is better to do this after flowering is completed, when the plants enter a dormant period.

kidney method

This is the second method of vegetative propagation. Each annual link of the root system has a spare bud, from which a new plant can grow in the future. Each fragment of the rhizome is carefully separated, disinfected with potassium permanganate and planted for growing. This method is useful when it is necessary to obtain many new bushes from a small number of mother plants.

When propagated by the vegetative method, irises begin to bloom the very next year after planting, but on condition that they were planted in July or early August.

Reproduction by seeds

This method is used when a gardener wants to cross varieties and grow new hybrids. Seeds are usually sown in the fall, immediately after the collection of planting material. Irises are sometimes sown in the spring, but in this case it is necessary to stratify the grains. To do this, the grains are soaked in water for several hours, then mixed with coarse sand and cleaned in the cold for two weeks.

Seeds sown in autumn are deepened two centimeters into the soil. In the spring, the first sprouts appear on the surface, but the plants usually germinate completely in the second year. Using this method of reproduction, you will not wait for flowering until three years after planting.

Irises in landscape design

In flower arrangements and in flower beds, dwarf irises look great in combination with plants that bloom in spring or summer. If we consider the first group, then tulips, daffodils, imperial hazel grouse or Pushkinia will become excellent neighbors for irises.

In rock gardens, these attractive low-growing flowers harmoniously look next to rocky alyssum, phlox, milkweed, and Caucasian rezuha. Small irises are also good in a rose garden, because in combination with the "queen of flowers" this culture also looks very impressive.

If you decide to plant irises in rockeries or rock gardens, keep in mind that these plants need quite a lot of space. Try not to plant ground cover and creeping crops next to them, which will simply “strangle” the beauty of irises. These flowers are suitable for creating borders and decorating borders. Luxurious buds look especially beautiful on stone fill, sand, small pebbles or other decorative mulch.

Often, dwarf irises are grown in flowerpots and pots, in stone bowls and planters, as well as in other containers that are installed on the plot, veranda, balcony. When planting irises in pots, take care of good drainage. Choose containers with good drain holes at the bottom. For the drainage layer, use expanded clay, broken brick, small pebbles with a layer of at least five centimeters. It is important to cover the drainage layer with some kind of non-woven material and only after that you can fill the soil.

We told you about wonderful plants that will undoubtedly decorate any garden plot. They are unpretentious and at the same time very responsive to the attention and care of the owners.

They have long gained popularity due to their unusual appearance and unpretentiousness. They practically do not require care, even an inexperienced gardener can cope with growing. Many varieties of this plant have been bred. In order not to get confused in such a variety, it is necessary to study in advance irises, varieties with photos and names. This will help create a spectacular garden to the envy of all neighbors.

Varieties of irises

Iris is a perennial unpretentious plant, which is distinguished by an unusual shape and color of flowers. It is suitable for growing in open areas flooded with sunlight. A distinctive feature of the flowers is their charming delicate aroma. Therefore, they are often used in the perfume industry.

Wild-growing irises today can be found in meadows, in the steppe or on sheer cliffs. Under the conditions, about five hundred different varieties have been bred that are suitable for growing in personal plots. They can be divided into several large groups:

bearded;
dwarf;
bulbous;
Siberian;
marsh;
Japanese.

In European countries, it is customary to divide these plants into 10 - 15 categories. Separately, border, Californian and some other species are distinguished. To decide which of them will take root better on your site, carefully study the irises, their varieties with photos and names.

bearded irises

Iris bearded is considered one of the most common varieties of plants. Its distinctive feature is the presence of fine hairs on the lower petals. They have a more saturated color compared to the general tone of the flower. Among the most spectacular varieties are:

This is just a small part of the variety on the market today. When choosing, pay attention to the fact that the flowers are in harmony with neighboring specimens and fit into the overall design of the site.

The height of such varieties can reach 80 cm, so you should not plant them in close proximity to photophilous low-growing plants.

dwarf irises

Iris dwarf differs from its counterparts in its small stature. The height of the peduncles does not exceed 40 cm. For most varieties, this parameter is 20 cm at all. They will be ideal for decorating small compact flower beds. Among the most popular varieties are:

Dwarf irises do well in light, permeable soils. If the soil in your garden is heavy, then add sand to it before planting.

bulbous irises

Everyone is used to the fact that irises are rhizomatous plants. Modern specialists have managed to breed several varieties growing from bulbs. They are distinguished by unusually early flowering. They can be compared to snowdrops. As soon as the snow melts, the first flowers appear. There are three main types:

Bulbous irises look good in a flower bed with crocuses, galanthus and so on. They will be ideal for alpine slides.

Such varieties can be grown in pots and large planters. They will be an excellent decoration of verandas and arbors.

Siberian irises

Photos of Siberian irises are impressive. They are distinguished by the extraordinary beauty of the flowers. The value of this species is also in the fact that the foliage of the plant has a rich green color throughout the season. The most spectacular varieties are:

Such varieties look spectacular along the banks of improvised reservoirs, in large ones. Groups of such flowers can decorate the lawn, which will give the landscape an unusual look.

swamp irises

Iris marsh or iris grows everywhere in our country. The leaves of this species are sword-shaped. Their length can reach two meters. This species does well in partial shade. Therefore, such flowers can be planted along fences or near trees with a not too dense crown. Among the most popular varieties are:

Having studied these varieties of irises with photos and names, we can conclude that they are ideal for group plantings. With the help of different types of irises, you can create spectacular flower beds.

Japanese irises

Japanese iris has orchid-shaped flowers. Their size can vary from 15 to 25 cm. In Japan, such plants are planted so that they can be admired from a height. From this angle, they look the most impressive.

The plants are large, so when planting between them, it is necessary to maintain a distance of at least 30 cm. The most popular varieties:

After studying the photo of the varieties of irises, you can choose the right planting material that is suitable for your type of soil. If you choose specimens with different flowering periods, you can admire the beauty of flowers all summer long.

Irises bloom in the garden - video

Irises are common wherever they can grow, as they are unpretentious and enjoy a special position among most flower lovers. The iris flower is mentioned in many legends, tales, myths and signs. It is a symbol of trust and hope, strong friendships and affection. The characteristics of the varieties, the features of planting, and the development of the plant will be discussed later in the article.

Description of the legendary flower

The iris flower is named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris. The reason for this comparison is that these plants come in a wide variety of colors. In one flower, many shades of one or more colors can be combined, which creates a harmonious and always unique picture.

Interesting!

Iris is also called Kasatik or Cockerel. In appearance, this plant is a bit like an orchid, it has very delicate, beautiful buds, bewitching with a variety of colors.

Iris is a perennial crop. The root system is located in the upper soil layer of the earth. Stems branched or simple. They can grow in bunches or singly - depending on the variety. Leaves are xiphoid, flat, collected at the base of the stem. Buds can be in inflorescences of several pieces or located one at a time. Perianth corolla-shaped, in the form of a tube with a six-part bend. The petals at the base are collected in a tube, where the nectar is located.

The flowering period of these flowers depends on the location. For example, in central Russia, they bloom from late May to July. The distribution area covers almost all continents. They do not grow only where it is very cold or there is an unbearable drought.

Types and varieties of irises

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The family of iris or iris includes more than 800 species. In science, these plants have a very complex structure, but in the world of simple flower lovers, they differ for the most part in color and some other parameters. There are dining, undersized (up to 35 cm), medium-sized (36-70 cm), tall (more than 70 cm), aril-like, small-flowered, bearded and not bearded cockerels. Some popular varieties are listed below as an example.

« Baltic Sea"- German variety. The flower is divided into sections according to color. The beard is bright blue and the petals are sky blue.
« Draculas Kiss"or" Dracula's Kiss "- an American variety, registered in 2009. The height of the stem is 91 cm on average, the color of the bud is dark purple.
« show queen"- the result of the work of Siberian breeders. The flowers are pale white, very beautiful, they are easy to distinguish among other types of irises. At the base of the inflorescence there is a yellow neck.

Photos of peony varieties Baltic Sea, Dracula's Kiss, Show Queen

« wink"- a dwarf variety with a delicate white flower, framed by violet-blue petals. On each peduncle, 2 buds ripen.
« Imperial Opal"- a beardless iris flower comes from Siberia. It has a very large flower (up to 10 cm), the upper and lower petals are lavender-pink, brightening towards the edges, with a small darker speck and veins. The peduncle itself is tall, grows about 80 cm.
« Delavayi"- a Siberian variety with an interesting shape of petals. They are oblong and narrower than other irises. The color is blue-violet with light stripes. Peduncle 60 cm high.

Photo of irises Imperial Opal, Delavayi

How to plant irises?

How to plant irises in open ground? Before proceeding directly to landing, you need to make sure that the place suits them. This is a very light-loving culture. She needs a lot of light, so the landing site should be in an open area, without constant natural or artificial shade.

As for soil moisture, it all depends on the variety. "Kempfera", "Bristly" and "Yellow" iris flower are grown in swampy areas, and "Siberian" requires moderate humidity. Most bearded irises prefer well-drained soil. So this point needs to be clarified in each individual case.

Irises cannot be called fastidious flowers, otherwise they would not be so common around the world. But to equate them all under one is also not worth it. Different varieties may have their own special preferences for the amount of moisture, soil type and other care and planting points.

Planting is carried out in autumn or spring. Before the procedure, you need to fertilize the ground (with humus, phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, or compost), remove all weeds and their roots, or treat the ground with herbicides so that weeds do not grow on the site. If the earth is too heavy or light, it needs to be balanced - peat and sand are added to the clay, and clay soil is added to the sand. You also need to regulate the acidity - the iris flower prefers soil of medium acidity.

Interesting!

Herbicides, against which gardeners are actively "fighting", are very popular when growing flowers. After all, flowers are not used for food, and therefore such chemistry will not bring harm in a flower bed.

For planting irises, you need to make holes or a trench, double the height of the spine. Then moisten the soil and plant the roots. After that, they are sprinkled with earth, the soil is slightly compacted and left to germinate. If the ground part is very high, it should be cut in half immediately after planting.

Divided roots are always planted superficially. Only a thin layer of soil should cover them from above. If planting was carried out in the fall, plantings should be covered for the winter with spruce branches and mulched with sawdust or some similar raw material.

How to care for irises?

Home care for houseplants and irises grown outdoors are two different things. The main thing to understand is that it is much easier to control room conditions than to grow flowers in flower beds and backyards. Sudden weather changes, excessive rainfall can completely destroy the plant, so you need to provide the most comfortable conditions for growth so that the culture grows strong and resistant.

Watering is carried out as needed. Do not forget that the top layer of soil should not dry out. In particular, it is important to follow the timely watering during flowering. Irrigation is carried out with warm water heated in the sun in the evening or morning hours.
In order for the plant to grow and develop magnificently, it is necessary to ensure that weeds do not grow among the irises. They need to be removed as soon as they appear. As weeds are removed, the soil must also be loosened.
Once every 3-4 years, it is advisable to transplant irises. This is the only way to achieve lush flowering from them. If you do not replant irises for more than 5-6 years in a row, the earth is greatly depleted and the plant may stop blooming altogether.

Unlike all other species, "Siberian" irises are transplanted once every 10 years, not more often!

The iris flower is fed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers 2-3 times for the entire season: at the beginning of growth, at the beginning of budding, and 10-15 days after flowering.
With the onset of frost, you need to cut the top tops in half. Before winter, plantings should be covered with peat or sawdust by 10 cm so that the roots do not freeze out, and in spring the mulch must be removed!

Photo of the colors of irises flowers

Diseases and pests

Unfortunately, irises are loved not only by people, but also by pests. True, they do not admire them, but eat and destroy them. In order for these unique plants not to suffer from pests and diseases, you need to know how to protect the iris flower and prevent any disease.

Thrips are especially dangerous during the drought period. They spoil the appearance of the plant, disrupt the processes of photosynthesis in the leaves, which is why the latter are taken with brown spots and dry out. To combat this pest, you can use Karbofos or make a homemade infusion. For 400 g of shag, 40 grams of grated laundry soap is taken. All this is filled with water and infused for 10 days. After the infusion is ready, it is filtered and used for spraying.
Scoop eats the base of the peduncle, leads to yellowing of the plant and its slow death. To combat them, Karbofos is most often used. The plant is treated with it 2 times per season (in the period before and after flowering).

To prevent diseases and pests from attacking irises, it is worth spraying them several times a season with complex insecticides and fungicides.

The grinder caterpillar causes the buds to dry out. Against it, you can use a 20% solution of Confieldor, a common insecticide.
Ascochitosis and cercosporiosis lead to twisting and death of the leaves. As a rule, this problem is observed during the period of active development. This is not very dangerous, as the leaves then grow back, but the problem is a lot of stress for the plant, so the buds that a recovered plant produces are usually smaller and not as lush. It is necessary to fight against diseases of this type with a solution of copper oxychloride. For 10 liters of water, 30 g of oxide is taken.

How are irises propagated?

The iris flower is propagated by dividing the rhizomes. Once every 4-5 years, after the end of flowering (July - early August), a piece of 1-2 years of age with a renewal bud and a bunch of leaves is separated from the maternal root. But before you separate the kidney, you need to warm the maternal root in the sun for 5-6 days.

After division, the divisions must be disinfected for 30 minutes in the Homa solution to kill all pathogenic bacteria. After that, the young roots are dried for 2-3 days in the sun, all cuts are sprinkled with crushed coal, and only then they are used for planting.

Legends and tales about irises

Irises are credited with a special energy. They are not only elevated to the rank of symbols, but also endowed with magical properties. This is one of the reasons why the cockerel is so often mentioned in the legends and mythology of different cultures.

According to one legend, the first iris flower bloomed on earth over 1 million years ago. In those days, animals, birds, insects, as well as wind and water gathered to admire its beauty. They loved the flower so much that they scattered it all over the earth, and when the flowers bloomed, people also fell in love with it.

Interesting!

Home care for irises that have been cut from the garden is quite simple. They just need to be placed in a vase with settled water (room temperature) and put in a bright place. Sometimes a couple of aspirin tablets or a teaspoon of sugar are thrown into the vase so that the flowers stand for a long time.

Another legend says that a long time ago a beautiful rainbow lit up the sky. But it did not dissolve like all the others, but crumbled into small particles that fell to the ground. After some time, on the places where parts of the rainbow fell, flowers grew, which were called irises.
It was the ancient Greeks who first compared this plant with the greatness of the goddess Irida. From the ancient Greek language, the word "iris" is translated as a rainbow. It is believed that the flower got its name thanks to Hippocrates, who named it.

Interesting!

In feng shui, the iris flower symbolizes life, eternal youth, hope and faith. Therefore, it is recommended to put it in the living room or any other room where the whole family gathers.

In Japan, the word "iris" and "warrior spirit" are written with the same character. In this country, irises are compared with the courage and courage of warriors. On Boys Day (Japanese holiday), the Japanese like to come to the iris gardens and admire these flowers. This custom has existed for a very long time and is strictly maintained from year to year.
In Christianity, irises are associated with the suffering of Christ. For this reason, these flowers have been cultivated for many centuries in monasteries and temples.