Bearded Iris

Description

A classic garden perennial with large, showy flowers on upright stems in spring. Comes in a wide range of colours — purples, blues, pinks, yellows, whites, and bicolours. The distinctive “beard” (a tuft of fine hairs on the lower petals) gives this iris its name. Many varieties are fragrant.

Grows best in full sun with well-drained soil. Plant the rhizomes near the surface — they like to bake in the sun. Divide clumps every few years to keep them flowering well. A reliable, long-lived perennial for Melbourne gardens.

Botanical name: Iris germanica