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Iris germanica Air d'Été - Tall bearded iris

Iris germanica Air d'Été
German Iris, Bearded Iris

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This plant carries a 12 months recovery warranty

More information

A remarkable bearded iris variety with large, soft orange flowers, enhanced by a mandarin beard. This rhizomatous perennial flowers from May to June, offering a generous and fragrant flowering. It is hardy, withstanding harsh winters and tolerating summer drought well, making it suitable for most regions. For optimal growth, it requires full sun exposure and well-drained soil, preferably neutral to chalky. Plant in summer, with barely buried rhizomes to ensure good establishment and abundant flowering the following spring.
Height at maturity
80 cm
Spread at maturity
40 cm
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -15°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil, Moist soil
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Best planting time August to September
Recommended planting time February to March, July to October
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Flowering time May to June
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Description

Iris germanica ‘Air d’Été’ is a relatively recent variety of Bearded Iris, created by the renowned Cayeux nursery. It produces substantial, bright, luminous light orange flowers, enhanced with mandarin-coloured beards, featuring broad, almost horizontal sepals. The compact flowers are well-proportioned to the medium-sized plant. It fits perfectly in sunny borders or in pots on a terrace. For abundant flowering, it requires full sun and well-drained soil, without excess moisture around the rhizome.

Iris germanica, also known as the Tall Bearded Iris or German Iris, belongs to the Iridaceae family. 'Air d’Été' is a horticultural cultivar developed in 2015 by the Cayeux nursery, famous for its selection of exceptional irises. It is one of many cultivars bred over centuries, with a debated origin linked to the chromosome count of its potential ancestors. What is certain is that Bearded Irises have European origins. These are sun-loving plants that thrive in chalky soils, with rhizomes that need to "bake" in summer to flower. A minimum of six hours of sunlight per day is generally required. Iris 'Air d’Été' stands out for its compact, well-balanced flowers, in pastel orange tones, with wide, nearly horizontal sepals and mandarin-coloured beards. The flowers are moderately sized yet particularly refined, with a thick texture, borne on sturdy stems carrying up to seven buds each. The habit is upright, growth is moderate, and the plant reaches around 80 cm in height in the ground, with a spread of 30 to 50 cm. It is a rhizomatous perennial that develops in elegantly upright clumps from spring, with foliage disappearing in winter. The clump will spread indefinitely over time, with the central rhizomes thinning out in favour of the outer ones. The blue-green leaves are sword-shaped, growing up to 60 cm long. The flower stems are rigid and sparsely branched; the root system consists of fleshy rhizomes that ensure both vegetative reproduction and nutrient storage. Flowering occurs between May and June. Iris rhizomes have long been used in perfumery to produce orris, a precious essential oil.

Planted en masse in a sunny border, 'Air d’Été' captures the light with an almost painterly grace, its orange tones warming spring scenes. It lends itself elegantly to both naturalistic and structured gardens, planted in light clumps among clumps of purple alliums, fine grasses like Stipa tenuissima, or catmints with bluish spikes that soften its upright habit. It pairs beautifully with other Bearded Irises in contrasting or complementary tones, such as ‘Babbling Brook’ with its lavender hues, vibrant yellow ‘Gold Galore’, or ‘Tabac Blond’ with its coppery reflections, creating a rich and lively harmony. It also thrives in pots on a sunny terrace or balcony. The vegetable garden can be enhanced with a few clumps or borders of irises for cut flowers.

 

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Garden iris, bearded iris: planting, care
Family sheet
by Virginie T. 13 min.
Garden iris, bearded iris: planting, care
Read article

Flowering

Flower colour orange
Flowering time May to June

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour medium green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 80 cm
Spread at maturity 40 cm
Growth rate fast

Botanical data

Genus

Iris

Species

germanica

Cultivar

Air d'Été

Family

Iridaceae

Other common names

German Iris, Bearded Iris

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference24445

Planting and care

Do you have a sunny spot, sheltered from the wind, warm and rather dry in summer?
This is the ideal location for planting tall irises such as 'Air d'Été'! They can be grown almost everywhere, as they are hardy and do not need winter protection. Well-drained soil is perfect, even if it is rather dry. Iris germanica require chalky soil: amend your soil with lime if it tends to be acidic. Soil that is too damp encourages rhizome rot. Plant from July to September. This gives the rhizomes enough time to grow sufficiently before lifting, then to develop new roots before winter. They should be planted as soon as purchased for the best results. Plan to divide irises every 4 years or so to give them fresh soil. They have vigorous growth and need space to develop and flower well. Plant with spacing suited to the size and vigour of the variety: about 34-50 cm for tall varieties (5 to 10 young plants per square metre). In a monochrome planting, the rhizomes are planted in a staggered pattern. To create a colour mix, it is advisable for the overall aesthetics of the iris bed to plant them in groups of several young plants of the same variety. Always take into account the direction of growth of the rhizomes by arranging them in a star shape, with buds and leaves facing outwards, and spacing them well from other varieties so they have room to develop.

Planting

Dig a hole wide and deep enough. Make a large conical mound of soil in it on which to place the rhizomes with the roots spread out. Cover the roots. It is important that the rhizome is left just below the soil surface. It should not be planted in a hollow (risk of rot), so allow for the soil to settle and the iris to sink. In clay or damp ground, the rhizome should even be raised on a slight mound, a few centimetres high. To help the soil cling to the roots, lightly firm the soil and water generously immediately after planting. Water if needed 2-3 times until established.

Care:

Keep the soil free of weeds by shallow hoeing, taking care not to damage the rhizomes or roots. Weeds shade the irises, retain moisture (leading to rot) and attract slugs. Similarly, cut back dry leaves. If they are diseased (reddish-edged spots from heterosporiosis), burn them. Remove spent flowers.

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Planting period

Best planting time August to September
Recommended planting time February to March, July to October

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow
Type of use Border, Cut flowers
Hardiness Hardy down to -15°C (USDA zone 7b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 5 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous
Soil type Chalky (poor, alkaline and well-drained), Silty-loamy (rich and light), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil, Well-drained, chalky soil.

Care

Pruning instructions Cut the flower stems after flowering. You can trim the foliage at a slant to half its height in summer using pruning shears.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time July to August
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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