Iris En Pointillés - Bearded iris

The 'En Pointillés' Bearded Iris is an intermediate garden iris variety with wavy bicoloured, moderately sized, beautifully formed flowers. This floriferous iris produces 10 to 11 buds per stem. The petals are white and delicately edged with light mauve. The white sepals are finely edged with purple-violet dots. The beards are rust-coloured. It quickly forms beautiful, highly-flowered clumps in May-June, during the iris season. It is sure to delight enthusiasts of unusual flowers, and its strong personality brings life to sunny flower beds, borders, and slopes.

The 'En Pointillés' Iris is a rhizomatous and deciduous perennial plant, with an upright clumping habit starting from spring. Of the plicata type, it is the result of cross-breeding between 'Terre à Silex' and 'Dancing in the Dark'. It will reach a height of approximately 70 cm when in bloom. It spreads in clumps without a theoretical limit, with the centre becoming less dense in favour of the periphery. The sword-like foliage is glaucous green and highly veined. In April, the flower stems appear and will bloom in May. The particularly rich colouration of this plant is, as always with garden irises, enhanced by the texture of the petals and sepals, with strongly wavy edges.

To accompany the irises, choose plants that have similar requirements in terms of soil and exposure. Opt for low-growing species or those with light foliage, which do not obstruct the light needed by the irises and do not compete with them, while offering staggered or non-staggered flowering. For example, Gaura maintains visual appeal throughout the summer and hides the foliage of the iris after flowering. California poppies and love-in-a-mist, which tolerate dry soil, go well with the needs of irises. Perennial geraniums, salvias, and Libertias are also good companions that extend the flowering period. At the base of a wall, the relative shelter from the wind allows for the use of tall irises. If you are concerned about climatic uncertainties, choose intermediate iris varieties, which have better resistance to wind and rain. Slopes, the base of small trees with light foliage, and terraced edges can be stabilised by a dense planting of old varieties that can remain in place and require little care.

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