Is that Iris in the garden? (Iris Sibirica)

Member Name: mumsymary

Product:	Iris Sibirica
Date:	19/05/07 (216 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: pretty good as a cut flower

Disadvantages: none

The Siberian Iris is one of many species in the Iris genus. This iris is a beardless iris.

The name Iris is taken from the rainbow the name of the Greek goddess a messenger taking messages from the Greek goddess Hera who is the goddess of women, love and marriage.

Iris Sibirica will soon be blooming in gardens it blooms from late May through June. My dad has some in his garden overlooking the pond.

What it looks like.
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Some of the plants in this genus are smaller than others the baby sister iris sibirica grows to about 30 cm/12 inches tall. Another 'Caesar's Brother grows to 90cm 36cm tall. The slender leaves grow upwards from a rosette from the ground they are long and pointed sword like. The iris flower grows on a tall stem. .
The iris flower typically has 6 petals, the lower 3 petals curl and hang downwards these petals are usually known as falls as they are falling down from the flower I suppose. The 3 other petals stand upright from the centre of the flower; these 3 petals are usually called standards. In some varieties of Iris Sibirica all 6 petals hang down as falls. I prefer the flower where the 3 lower petals droop and the upper 3 petals stand up.
Below the flower a capsule seed head develops. This has 3 sections /chambers which contain 2 rows of seed.


Colours
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The colours of the flowers on the different species of this plant can be blue / purple, pink white or yellow. My dads Iris sibirica are blue I like the blue ones better than the other colours. In some varieties the main colour of the petals is blue this has a paler colour flash, creamy or a lighter blue at the base of the petals near the centre of the flower this looks very attractive .
If you wish to see pictures of several different Iris Sibirica go to http://www.auldenfarm.co.uk/irissibiricapage.html where I found pictures of the many varieties for sale. I liked the Shirley Pope and the coronation anthem varieties.


Growing a Iris Sibirica
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The beardless iris, iris sibirica is a perennial it grows from a rhizome. (A rhizome is a fleshy stem that grows under the soil roots grow from this rhizome.) . You can buy Iris rhizomes from nurseries or garden centers on or off line .off and on line. You can buy the plants too. These will cost you from about £3.00 Just type in Iris sibirica into your search engine and you will find many places offering these plants for sale.

Iris sibirica likes full sun or partial shade. They like a moist soil, that’s why they grow well at the edge of a pond. Once established these plants need little care.

You can cut these flowers and enjoy the blooms in a vase in the house. My dad often cut some for my mum to arrange and enjoy. I wonder if he knew the meaning of the name Iris. ?

Summary: A pretty flower , soon be blooming