Iris Candy Apple

The 'Candy Apple' Iris is part of the standard dwarf bearded irises (SDBs), a horticultural category that includes small-sized varieties whose flowering occurs almost a month before that of the tall bearded irises. It produces flowers with wine-coloured petals and purple-violet sepals shaded with grey, surrounding a beautiful bluish-violet beard. This variety quickly forms lovely, colourful little clumps, perfect for creating a beautiful spring decoration in rock gardens and borders. 

The 'Candy Apple' Iris is a rhizomatous and deciduous perennial plant, with upright clumps from spring onwards. It belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of the many modest-sized cultivars that appeared in the 1950s. Originally, the 'lilliput' category referred to the cross-breeding of an Iris pumila and a tall iris. This term generally designates the category of standard dwarf bearded irises (SDBs). 'Candy Apple' will reach a height of 30cm (12in) when in bloom and the clump will spread indefinitely over time, with the central rhizomes becoming bare in favour of the outer rhizomes. The foliage, which emerges in spring, consists of sword-shaped leaves, with glaucous green colour and parallel veins. In March-April, more or less early depending on the regions, flower stems appear that will produce several flowers in April, usually one to three per stem. The colour of this plant, as always with garden irises, is enhanced by the velvety texture of the petals and sepals.

Breeder: Melba Hamlen, 1972 - Awards: Honorable Mention in 1973, Award of Merit in 1975.　

To accompany irises, choose plants to associate with them based on their needs (exposure, soil...), their "respectful" growth habit towards irises (low-growing or light foliage plants), and their decorative complementarity (appearance, flowering time). For example, Gauras will provide little shade and keep the deflowered iris bed attractive throughout the summer. Eschscholzia will be content with a dry and poor soil, just like irises. Geraniums, salvias, and Libertia also accompany irises very well. Slopes and terraced edges will be stabilized by dense plantings of old diploid varieties that can remain in place and require little care. 

Rock gardens, rocky and dry meadows, limestone plateaus, rocky slopes, green roofs: use the full range of irises. Border edges are the domain of border irises, but also of dwarf irises!