Iris Donegal

Iris 'Donegal' is one of the intermediate irises, shorter than the Tall Bearded Iris and flowering earlier. While its flowers may be slightly smaller, they are just as numerous and equally charming. The corollas are beautifully wavy in a delicate pastel mauve-pink, accentuated by a deeper mauve at the heart of the flower where a lovely blue-lavender velvety beard is nestled. This variety is named after one of the wildest and most beautiful regions in Ireland and is a robust plant that can withstand bad weather, making it useful for windy gardens.

Iris 'Donegal' is a rhizomatous perennial plant with elegantly upright clumps from spring, with its foliage disappearing in winter. It belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of the many cultivars obtained over centuries, with a controversial origin debated around the number of chromosomes of potential ancestors. It is worth noting that Bearded Irises have European origins. They thrive in chalky soils and need ample sunlight for their rhizomes to "bake" in summer to bloom. A minimum of 6 hours of sunshine per day is generally required. Intermediate irises are the result of cross-breeding between dwarf irises and Tall Bearded irises. Unlike Border Irises, they flower just after the dwarfs, usually in April or early May.

'Donegal' will reach 50-53 cm (20-21in) high when in flower, with several buds per stem. The clump will spread indefinitely over time, with the central rhizomes losing foliage in favour of the outer ones. The foliage consists of long, wide, sword-shaped, slightly glaucous green leaves with parallel veins. In March-April, sturdy and thick flower stalks appear, which will produce 10 to 13 cm (4 to 5in) flowers in April-May, blooming from the top down. As is always the case with Garden Irises, the colour is enhanced by the iridescent texture of the upright petals and the trailing sepals. The flowers of 'Donegal' are slightly fragrant.

Bred by Keppel in 1997.

Awards: Honorable Mention in 2000.

To accompany irises, choose plants based on their needs (exposure, soil...) and vegetation (low-growing or light-foliaged plants), as well as their decorative appearance and flowering time. For example, Gauras will provide little shade to the irises and will keep the faded iris bed attractive throughout the summer. Eschscholzias, like irises, will thrive in dry soil in summer. Geraniums, salvias, and Libertias also complement irises very well. Slopes and terraced edges can be stabilised by dense plantings of robust and low-maintenance diploid old varieties. If the goal is more decorative and maintenance access is possible, one can choose more modern varieties, such as intermediate irises that are less likely than the Tall Bearded irises to be flattened by the wind and rain.

At the base of a wall, the relative shelter from the wind allows for the planting of Tall Bearded irises. Of course, shorter and earlier varieties can be planted in the foreground.

Border of a pathway: the realm of early dwarf irises less than 40 cm (16in) tall, along with intermediate irises (in terms of size and earliness) and border irises, which are of medium size but flower at the same time as the Tall Bearded irises.

Border of a flower bed: the domain of border irises, but also dwarfs, depending on the circumstances.

Mixed border: the entire range of sizes can be used, chosen according to their position (foreground, background) and the size of the surrounding plants.

Iris bed, iris garden: the paradise of the iris lover, where the choice of varieties (shape, colour, fragrance...) reflects each person's taste. The use of bearded irises of all sizes allows for two and a half months of flowering in spring. The choice of reblooming irises offers a few additional flowers in late summer or autumn, depending on the climate.

The vegetable garden can be planted with a few clumps or borders of irises for cut flowers.