Varieties of dwarf irises with photographs. Dwarf killer whale. Dwarf bearded iris, variety ‘Lumalite’

Bearded irises are the most watercolor perennials. The luxury of flowering and the unprecedented beauty of both shapes and colors, despite the limited flowering period, and not so easy cultivation, have long made them favorites landscape design. But not everyone can boast of this status. bearded irises. Low or dwarf varieties of bearded irises are undeservedly ignored. And it’s completely in vain: these plants will give a head start to their usual tall counterparts. After all, the possibilities of their use are not limited to flower beds and ridges, but also include rockeries and potted plants.

The only difference is the height

Dwarf bearded irises are limited in height to a maximum of 30-40 cm, although most often these crops will not exceed 20 cm. But despite such modest sizes, their flowers are no less bright and large. And their variety is no less than that of medium or tall irises. And even the tenderness of the petals, the much-loved “beard” and the abundance of flowers they have will not suit their brothers. 2-3 flowers bloom on one peduncle, but the density of the bushes compensates for this a large number flowering shoots. The only difference is the height of the leaves and peduncles. This is a kind of miniature copy of ordinary bearded irises, while the “reduction” does not affect the flowers. But their endurance and unpretentiousness are much more pronounced. Small irises open up new and sometimes unexpected possibilities for garden design.

Garden dwarf bearded irises are divided into two categories of varieties:
Standard Dwarf Bearded (SDB)

Miniature Dwarf Bearded (MDB)

Key advantages of low-growing varieties:

they grow much faster and create spectacular bushes by the second year after planting;
dwarf irises bloom more abundantly and two weeks earlier than medium and tall bearded irises;
the foliage of miniature irises retains its beauty until the end of the season and is no less impressive than the best decorative foliage plants; places architectural accents.

Iris dwarf “Stitch Witch”.

They were bred only a little over a century ago on the basis of two natural types of irises - dwarf and squat. Thanks to selection and crossing with bearded varieties, they acquired flowering that was as spectacular as that of large bearded varieties, but retained their size, unpretentiousness and more attractive foliage. Conventionally, all miniature bearded irises are divided into miniature dwarf and standard dwarf. The latter produce flower stalks 10 cm higher and several flowers more.

The best varieties of low-growing bearded irises:

a very bright blue-violet variety “Adrian Taylor” with an unusual aroma;
wine, with a unique shade of “Lollipop” color;
purple-red with a blue beard variety “Ruby Contrast”;
melon-butter variety with a warm apricot tint of color and an orange beard “Tinkled Peach”;
“Pretty Cute” with pink-orange color and play of peach tones;
"Amsterdam" with a bright golden yellow color and brown spots;
“Boo” with snow-white upper petals and dark purple lower petals with white ruffles;
"Crystal Bright", whose snow-white color is highlighted with a bright yellow spot on the lower petals;
profusely colored and very unusual “Serenity Prayer” with a play of snow-white and light yellow, dark purple spots, emphasized by the pointed shape of the lower petals;
sunny yellow variety with orange buds “Sun Doll”

Low-growing bearded irises can be used to decorate:

flower beds, ridges and mixborders in the foreground;
for decorating the lawn with flowering and architectural groups;
in iridariums as the basis of compositions;
curbs and framing of paths and paths with temporary covering;
alpine slides and rockeries;
potted gardens and containers.

Dwarf irises in alpine gardens

In rocky gardens, even on the south side or among large boulders, low-growing bearded irises will not only not get lost, but will also feel comfortable. Due to their much less capriciousness, they adapt well to soil atypical for irises and much drier conditions. And how good they are against the background of stone chips and decorative filling! Even the most modest gravel or crumb when planting miniature irises changes beyond recognition and seems like an exclusive coating.

In rock gardens and rockeries, low-grade bearded irises seem like real shining treasures. Their large flowers immediately catch the eye and create luxurious accents. They combine effectively with most crops typical of rocky gardens. Small-leaved and flowering carpet-like ground covers from alyssum to aubrieta, inimitable dwarf shrubs and conifers - they all only enhance the beauty of these crumbs. True, when planting irises you should be more careful than when planting bulbous ones: they can easily be crowded out by aggressive cushions and creeping plants, so you need to leave enough free space for irises.

Miniature irises in flower beds and mixed plantings

Low varieties of bearded irises are perfect for classic flower beds and ridges. It is believed that this is one of the most advantageous perennials for modern flower beds with decorative mulch or filling the soil with pebbles. The same laws apply here as when introducing mini-irises into rocky gardens– an advantageous revelation of the texture of the stone chips and the most vivid presentation of the beauty of the flowering of the irises themselves. In such flower beds, the beauty of each individual plant is revealed to the maximum, because the crops are located at a sufficient distance, and beautiful mulch creates a luxurious background. But even in the foreground of ordinary flower beds and tents, as a border around flower arrangements, they look no worse.

Potted mini irises

These plants, modest in size, but far from modest in the beauty of their flowering, grow well in separate containers. Low-growing varieties of bearded irises can be placed in decorative flowerpots and small bowls, and in simple pots or balcony boxes. But they will look no worse in complex, combined compositions. Moreover, correct selection partners will allow beautifully flowering irises to appear in all their splendor.

The only thing needed to turn low irises into real container stars is good drainage. For these plants, you can only use containers with a good drainage hole, and drainage made of expanded clay or large shards should be laid at a height of at least 5 cm. The top must be covered with non-woven material, and only then planting should be carried out.

Iris dwarf “Lesser Goldfinch”.

Simple conditions for abundant flowering

Low-growing bearded irises will bloom more colorfully, the lighter and sunny place you will choose them. They are not afraid of even the south-oriented slopes of rock gardens - so feel free to plant them in the brightest areas of the garden and immediately refuse even light shade. As for the soil, they grow well in any high-quality, well-drained, loose-textured and non-acidic soil. Planting of low-growing irises is carried out according to the same rules as medium ones, and high grades. Be careful when mulching the soil: mini-irises do not tolerate mulch in the form of organic matter, grass, tree bark, in a word, any plant materials. Suitable only for them protective layer from stone chips or sand.

Such irises are planted shallowly, placing the rhizome horizontally and only lightly covering it with soil so that the top of the rhizome remains level with the soil (only on sandy soil can they be buried 1-2 cm). Where the soil is damp or there is a risk of water stagnation, irises are planted in hills or raised rows.

As for care, low-growing irises are easy to grow. All they need is one single feeding in the spring, which is best done before flowering begins. Using potassium-phosphorus fertilizers, you will give the plants a powerful boost and they will bloom profusely. Although today, to stimulate more abundant flowering, a standard scheme of 2-3 feedings for all irises is often used (nitrogen-potassium fertilizers in early spring, nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers 2-3 weeks after the first feeding, and the third procedure is carried out only after full flowering mineral fertilizers). The rest of the care comes down to trimming the flower stalks after the colorful parade is over and cutting the leaves to a height of 10 cm at the end of the season.

They are separated every 3-4 years, from the end of July to September. For mini-irises, the leaves are cut at a level of 7 cm from the soil, and then the rhizomes are carefully dug out. When dividing, parts with 1-2 leaf rosettes and a sufficient bunch of roots are separated.

Partners for Dwarf Bearded Irises

Low-growing bearded irises go well with medium-sized garden plants. Ideal partners for them include a variety of carnations, horned violet, ornamental grasses, and dwarf woody plants, and ground covers. Their beauty is perfectly accentuated by aubrieta, alyssum, evergreen iberis, Dorfler's thyme, subulate phlox, myrtle-leaved spurge, gray and sheep's fescue, shaker grass, feather feather grass, seaside armeria, grass and blue-gray carnations, late tulip, common lumbago, mountain pine.

In potted culture, low-growing irises go well with juveniles, cat's foot, jaundice, and saxifrage.

One of the most attractive flower stalks is the dwarf iris. With its help you can perfectly decorate gardens and cottages. Flowers amaze with their beauty and diversity. They come in many colors and shapes and will look amazing, luxurious and original.

The plants are stunted, growing to a height of 40 cm, but 20 cm flowers are more common. Although the size of dwarf irises is modest, the flowers do not differ in size and brightness from their traditional counterparts. The petals of the peduncles are painted in many shades. Many flower lovers are delighted with lilac, purple, yellow and other colors.

Iris dwarf "Blau"

Each flower stalk can grow from 2 to 3 flowers; one bush can produce large number shoots, so flowering is characterized by abundance and diversity. Dwarfs are unpretentious and easy to care for, which makes them different from their taller counterparts.

Culture has a number of advantages:

dwarfs are distinguished by their colorful inflorescences and spectacular foliage, which maintains an attractive appearance throughout the season, until the onset of autumn;
dwarf varieties bud the very next year after planting, so in a short time you get a beautiful flower bed;
The crop blooms 14-15 days earlier than its taller counterparts; the difference lies in the abundance of buds.

The plants are hardy and unpretentious, indispensable when decorating the territory of summer cottages and garden plots.

Dwarf iris: varieties

Cultivation of dwarf irises has been carried out for the last hundred years. Breeders have developed many varietal varieties from one plant. Gardeners grow the following varieties:

Attractive yellow-orange peduncles, on each petal of which a beard of a soft white shade is produced, bearded iris produces dwarf variety and "Carats". At the tips the beard becomes bright red.
The petals of the “Puppet” variety of irises with streaked brownish veins are beautiful and lavender-like in color. Peduncles are tall, 30 cm, with 3 buds.
The snow-white inner petals and the heavenly bluish tint of the lower lobes are characteristic of the “Wink” variety. The stems grow to a height of 24 cm, with up to two buds blooming on each large size.
Large flowers, painted in a soft blue color, are characterized by “Cry Baby” irises. Under the influence sun rays The petals can burn out, becoming whitish. Peduncles usually grow to a 28-centimeter mark, each of them grows from 1 to 3 buds, striking in their beauty and originality.
The iris variety “Little Dream” is distinguished by large peduncles painted in a soft lilac shade. Each petal has beards of a bluish tint. The height of the stem varies from 30 to 34 cm. 2-3 large flowers can bloom on each stem.
Flowers amaze with their beauty and attractiveness. They are painted dark blue. Each petal of the Sapphire Gem iris produces a snow-white beard. The peduncle can grow up to 37 cm. Each of them produces up to four flowers.

Planting dwarf irises

Dwarf iris is indispensable when decorating borders.

First, gardeners decide on a site for planting irises. For culture, it is necessary to choose well-lit places. It is under these conditions that plants will attract attention with the colorfulness, brightness and perfection of their buds.

Good flowers grow in light, breathable, nutritious soils. To get lush bouquets in areas with insufficiently loose soil, add sufficient sand to the ground. Lime, ash and other alkaline substances are added to areas. To avoid excessive moisture, care should be taken to ensure good drainage. This measure will ensure the safety of the root system.

Plant the crop like its tall counterparts:

Varieties of dwarf irises begin to be planted on the site in the spring and until August. The culture takes root well after transplantation in any weather conditions.
It is necessary to disinfect for 2 hours using potassium permanganate dissolved in water. This measure will reduce the risk of developing diseases.
After selecting a site, it is recommended to dig it up and add nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus-containing substances in sufficient quantities.
When planting bushes, the root neck should be left above the ground.
The plant is watered for a week, after which the soil is carefully loosened. In this case, you need to be careful not to harm the root system.

Care

Dwarfs are easy to care for as they are quite unpretentious. In the spring, before flowering begins, the plant must be fed with potassium-phosphorus substances. This will help to form attractive and large buds. To stimulate flowering it is used experienced flower growers the following diagram:

in April, irises are fertilized using nitrogen-potassium substances;
after a 3-week period, nitrogen and phosphorus are added;
after the beginning of the flowering period, it is necessary to feed with minerals.

After the flowers wither, they are cut off. When the irises stop blooming, it is recommended to remove the flower stalks. In August, plants are trimmed, foliage is trimmed to 10 cm in size.

After a 3-4 year period, it is recommended to divide and plant irises. First, the foliage is cut off at a 7-centimeter level from the surface of the ground, then the roots should be dug up and the crop should be divided into parts, leaving in each case several leaf rosettes (usually 1 or 2).

Rules for propagating dwarf irises

Currently, there are two ways to propagate the crop:

vegetative;
seeds.

Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Gardeners usually propagate irises by dividing the rhizomes. Such reproduction occurs throughout the season. But professionals advise carrying out the procedure after the onset of the resting phase. The plant is completely dug up or a small part is cut off from the mother bush. Then root system should be washed with water to clear it of soil and divided into fragments. The foliage is trimmed by 15 cm and the rhizome is shortened by 10 cm. At the next stage, the links are treated with potassium permanganate diluted in water and dried in the sun.

The bush propagates by the bud method. On each of the annual links of the root, a new shoot can grow. This part is separated, disinfected in a potassium permanganate solution and planted for growing.

Peduncles are formed if the irises were propagated vegetatively, already in the spring of next year, if the plant was planted at the end of summer.

You can grow a bush from seeds. This method is optimal if the gardener has a desire to obtain new hybrid forms. Sowing of seeds is carried out in early autumn immediately after they are collected. You can sow the crop in the spring, but it is recommended to stratify the grains. The planting material is pre-soaked in water, then it must be mixed with sand and hidden in a cold place, where it should lie for 2 weeks.

Application in landscape design

At the time of replanting dwarfs in the territory or rose gardens, it is necessary to pay attention to the free arrangement. Not recommended for creeping and ground cover plants plant with irises in the same area, since their beauty in this case will be “strangled”.

Dwarf iris is used to create rockeries

Plants look good in areas if other crops grow with them. Combinations of irises with other spring flowers usually strike the eye. These low-growing attractive flowers can be accompanied by rock alyssum, Caucasian rhizome, and spurge, which look great in rock gardens. Here you can plant daffodils, pushkinia, or imperial hazel grouse. Dwarf irises are indispensable in the design of rose gardens.

With the help of dwarf irises, border areas are decorated and plants look attractive in various containers, placed throughout the garden area. Irises in flowerpots, flowerpots and stone bowls decorate a loggia, balcony or veranda. But when grown in pots special attention It is recommended to pay attention to drainage; plants cannot tolerate stagnant water. In this case they die.

Iris small size are able to give beauty to any area. They will delight you with their flowering and originality. Caring for the crop is quite simple, so it’s worth trying to plant it in your own areas. Try it, you won't regret it.

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

However, not all plants of this species can boast of this status. Dwarf bearded irises, unfortunately, are undeservedly deprived of attention today. And it’s completely in vain: these flowers can easily give a head start to their taller counterparts, since they can be used not only in flower beds and flower beds, they look great in rock gardens and as a potted plant.

Dwarf irises: description

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

As a rule, two or three flowers bloom on one peduncle, but large number flowering shoots compensates for the density of the bushes. The only difference between these plants is the height of the peduncles and leaves. This is, so to speak, a miniature copy of traditional species, but this does not at all affect the size of the flowers. 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 dachas.

Experts divide all varieties of dwarf irises into two categories:

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

Advantages of dwarf varieties

If you are interested low-growing varieties irises (you can see the photo in this article), you should know about their benefits:

Already in the second year, budding of dwarf irises begins, which allows short terms arrange a beautiful flower bed;
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 measuring 5x9 cm appear on one peduncle.

Cry Baby

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

Puppet

Magnificent dwarf iris of lavender color. 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, has 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. Purple-blue velvety flowers open in May-June. The petals have a dark blue beard. This variety blooms again in August. Prefers well-drained garden soil. Dwarf iris "Little Shadow" does not tolerate stagnant moisture.

For active flowering it is necessary good lighting. In snowless, frosty winters, additional shelter is required. Used when decorating borders and mixborders.

Little Dream

A very delicate dwarf iris with a pretty large flowers(6.5x11.5 cm). The petals are soft lilac, the beard is blue. The stem grows up to 35 cm and produces up to three flowers.

"Cats Eye"

Iris with a very interesting color: dark pink petals with a large dark cherry spot. Plant height 30 cm. Leaves are broad-linear, bluish in color. When planting, the roots of this plant are slightly deeper and mulched on the surface.

The dwarf iris “cats eye” blooms in April-May, a little earlier than many species. He needs the rich nutrients light soils with a neutral reaction, sun and quiet places protected from the wind. Used to decorate terraces in spring, mainly planted in ceramic bowls.

Carats

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

Growing irises

If on your plot you grew tall varieties these plants, then planting dwarf irises will not cause you any problems. First you need to select a site for planting. Dwarf varieties love space and sun; only if these conditions are met will they delight you with bright buds.

Create a flower bed in the lightest and most open area, where there is plenty of sunshine throughout the day.

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 necessary: lime, ash, etc. Good drainage is necessary, which will not excess moisture stagnate in the soil and cause root rot.

Planting irises in the ground

Dwarf irises are planted in warm time year: from early April to mid-August. The advantage of these plants is that they tolerate any transplants well and take root quite quickly and easily in a new place. Having selected a site for planting, dig up the soil to a depth of about twenty-five centimeters and add potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen fertilizers to it. For one square meter there should be twenty grams of phosphorus and potassium and ten grams of nitrogen.

Before planting, iris cuttings 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 collar is above the soil level. For 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, being careful 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 sand or small pebbles are more suitable for this purpose.

Caring for miniature irises

This unpretentious plants, not requiring complex care. In the spring, they are fed with potassium-phosphorus compounds before budding. 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;
after twenty days, phosphorus and nitrogen are added to the soil;
When the plants bloom, they will need mineral compounds.

During the season, it is necessary to cut off the faded buds, and when flowering is completed, the flower stalks are completely removed. At the very end of the season, irises are trimmed, cutting leaves to 10 cm. Approximately every four years, irises should be divided and replanted. To do this, first cut off 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.

Propagation of irises: vegetative method

This is the easiest and most popular way to propagate irises. We talked about this procedure above. It can be done at any time, but it is better to do this after flowering has ended, 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 advisable 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 provided that they were planted in July or early August.

Propagation by seeds

This method is used in cases where a gardener wants to cross varieties and grow new hybrids. Seeds are usually sown in the fall, immediately after collecting planting material. Irises are sometimes sown in 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 put in the cold for two weeks.

Seeds sown in autumn are deepened two centimeters into the soil. In spring, the first shoots appear on the surface, but the plants usually germinate completely in the second year. Using this method of propagation, you will wait for flowering no earlier than three years after planting.

Irises in landscape design

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

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

If you decide to plant irises in rock gardens or rock gardens, keep in mind that these plants require quite a large 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 ridges and decorating borders. Luxurious buds look especially beautiful on stone fill, sand, small pebbles or other decorative mulch.

Often, dwarf irises are grown in vases and pots, in stone bowls and plant pots, as well as in other containers that are placed on personal plot, veranda, balcony. When planting irises in pots, ensure good drainage. Prefer containers with good drainage holes at the bottom. For the drainage layer, use expanded clay, broken brick, and small pebbles in a layer of at least five centimeters. It is important to cover the drainage layer with some kind of non-woven material and only then can you fill in 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 their owners.

Family: iris (Iridaceae).

Homeland: Europe, Asia, North America, North Africa.

Form: perennial rhizomatous plants.

Description

Iris (irris) is a perennial herbaceous rhizomatous plant. However, there is a popular misconception that irises are bulbous. The leaves of the iris (irris) are sword-shaped, flat, thin, with a waxy coating, most often collected in a fan-shaped bunch. The roots of irises are thread-like, fibrous, and improve the structure of the soil.

Iris flowers (iris) solitary or in few-flowered inflorescences, individual species fragrant, distinguished by an elegant shape and a rich range of varieties different shades, from pure white, yellow, blue to purple and almost black. The iris flower (iris) is large, consists of six (sometimes three) petal-shaped perianth lobes. The outer and inner lobes of the iris flower differ in shape, size and color. Garden irises (hybrid irises) and some others have multicellular hairs on the outer lobes - “beards”. Iris (iris) blooms from May to June. Iris flowers bloom from one to five days.

Iris fruits are triangular ribbed long capsules. Iris seeds are large, ribbed, light or dark brown, 25-45 pcs. in a seed pod.

The varieties of irises are so diverse that you can easily create an entire iris garden.

The most common types of irises:

Bearded iris (I. barbata). It got its name because of the outer petals, the bases of which are decorated with stripes of hairs, often standing out in contrasting color against the general background of the flower. Bearded irises are divided into three groups according to the height of the peduncle: low-growing, no more than 40 cm high; medium-sized, 41-70 cm high; tall, more than 70 cm high. The color of bearded iris flowers varies depending on the variety - blue, purple, bordered.

(I. ruthenia Ker-Gawler). Grows in low, dense clumps. The flowers of the Russian iris are not large, pale lilac and violet-lilac, fragrant. Russian irises are suitable for rocky areas.

, Siberian iris (I. sibirica). Height is about 1 m. Flowers are violet-blue. Siberian iris is very hardy. The leaves of the Siberian iris are narrow-linear, light green, and remain until frost. Siberian iris and varieties of irises bred on its basis are combined into section Limniris. Irises of this group do not have beards on the outer perianth lobes.

Marsh iris, marsh iris (false calamus, yellow iris) (I. pseudacorus). Can reach 1 m in height. The flowers are golden yellow with brown streaks and bloom in May-June. Swamp iris (yellow killer whale) is thermophilic, prefers sun or partial shade. Swamp iris (yellow) is winter-hardy; spreads very quickly. Swamp iris (yellow) is used to decorate ponds (water depth up to 40 cm). Tolerates salinity.

Iris smooth (I. laevigata Fisch). Needs strong hydration. Smooth iris (smooth iris). Grows near water bodies.

Iris germanica (I. germanica) - iris with wide or narrow sword-shaped leaves that persist until autumn. The flowers of the German iris are large, on long (60-90 cm) peduncles. Flowering from May to late June. German iris (German iris) makes a good cut flower.

(I. pumila) is a miniature iris native to Southern Europe. Height up to 10 cm. Dwarf iris (dwarf iris), growing, forms small curtains. Blooms in May. The flowers are small and can have a variety of colors.

Iris ensiform , or Kaempfer's iris (I. ensata) is the most late-flowering species of irises. The leaves are narrow, 30-40cm high. The flowers of the xiphoid iris are flat with short inner and wide outer petals. The height of the peduncles is 60-70 cm.

Iris bristles (I. setosa). Very frost-resistant type. Recommended even for the far north.

Iris low , or iris low (I. humilis) - low-growing iris height 15-20 cm. Flowers yellow or purple. Low iris blooms in May-June.

Iris ostrogodny (I. acutiloba). The flowers are yellowish-white, black-brown, with a brown network of veins, strokes and dots.

Japanese iris (I. japonica). Based on the size of the flower, Japanese irises are divided into small, medium, large and very large. Based on the shape of the flower, they are divided into simple, double, and double. According to the height of the stem - very short, short, medium, tall. By flowering time - very early, early, mid-blooming, late, very late. Japanese iris flowers are purple-violet, in different shades. Reach large sizes. Weakly winter-resistant.

Growing conditions

The iris plant prefers fertile soils. Most irises do not tolerate excess moisture and shading. Large doses of nitrogen cause plant diseases. Irises will grow best on loamy soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction (p-H 5-6).

Application

Since irises are very decorative, their use is wide. Irises are often planted near the shores of water bodies. They are also used to create monobeds - iris gardens. Dwarf iris and Russian iris are planted on, in. Irises look very beautiful in combination with lupins, poppies, peons, bristly phlox, sedum and saxifrage, as well as bulbous plants. However, it must be taken into account that irises are not very competitive; well-growing perennials easily suppress them. Contrasting color combinations of irises are good, for example, dark irises are best planted against a background of light flowers.

Irises produce a sustainable cut.

Planting and care

Before planting irises, the soil should be dug to a depth of at least 20 cm, humus, potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen should be added. Fresh manure can be applied only a year before planting irises.

The most favorable time for planting irises in central Russia is the end of August - beginning of September.

Caring for irises after transplantation consists of weeding, loosening the soil, fertilizing and watering.

Irises must be replanted periodically, otherwise individual parts of the rhizomes will be squeezed out to the surface, which will reduce the feeding area and the irises may stop blooming, the leaves will become small and the decorativeness will decrease. Therefore, irises are replanted every 3-5 years - garden irises and leafless iris, 6-8 years - Siberian iris, 8-10 years - yellow iris.

Some irises are covered for the winter.

Reproduction

Irises can be propagated by seeds and vegetatively. The seed method of propagating irises is used only through hybridization, so iris seeds are difficult to find. Irises bloom when propagated by seed for 2-3 years.

More widespread vegetative propagation irises is a simpler way that allows you to get flower stalks in the first year after planting. This is how both varietal irises and wild ones are propagated.

Iris divisions are planted shallowly, superficially, slightly inclined, so that the bud is at soil level, and upper part the rhizomes were not covered with soil. If the rhizomes are too deep during planting, the irises may not bloom, and there is also a risk of disease or death of the plant. Iris is divided and replanted 2-4 weeks after flowering. Irises bloom luxuriantly in the third year after planting. Iris seeds can be purchased at garden centers, order irises by mail or online.

Diseases and pests

To the most dangerous diseases Irises include wet root rot, caused by bacteria. The first symptoms of this disease are yellowing and drying of iris leaves. late spring. Then the disease affects the young shoots of irises, they grow weakly, turn yellow, turn brown and die.

Popular varieties

Garden varieties of irises are classified according to shape, size, flower color, height and flowering time. The most common is the division of iris varieties according to the height of the peduncle.

Low-growing irises are divided into two classes:

miniature dwarf bearded irises (peduncle height up to 25 cm);

standard dwarf (peduncle height 25-37 cm).

Medium-sized irises are divided into three classes:

early blooming irises (peduncle height 37-70 cm, flower diameter 7-12 mm);

miniature bearded irises (peduncle height 37-70 cm, flower diameter 5-7 mm);

border irises (peduncle height 37-70 cm, late flowering, flower diameter 7-12 mm).

All varieties of irises with a peduncle height above 70 cm and unlimited flower sizes are classified as standard tall bearded irises.

For growing in conditions middle zone The following varieties of irises from the Limniris group are recommended for Russia:

white irises - 'Snowcrest',‘White Suprl’;

blue-violet irises - ‘Tikkun’, 'Caesar', 'Emperor';

blue irises - 'Cambridge', 'Mountain Lake'.

'New Snow'- white iris with a yellow beard, large, fragrant, late date flowering.

'May Hall'. Single-color, soft pink, large-flowered, fragrant, medium height.

‘Winner’s Sack’. A single-colored iris of dark purple color with a white spot under a blue beard. Blooms profusely every year.

'Irish Dream'. A single-color, light lemon-yellow variety with a bright yellow beard.

'Merion Made'. Single color light blue with a little purple tint with a yellow beard. Very large flowers. Looks beautiful in the garden and in a bouquet.