Iris germanica Anaconda Love - Bearded Iris

Iris germanica 'Anaconda Love' is part of the border iris, shorter than the Tall Bearded Iris, but flowering at the same time, in May-June. It also belongs to the category of "broken colours," whose striped and curiously variegated flowers are perfectly original. This one has beautifully undulated corollas made of pink petals veined with light purple and sepals variegated with beetroot red and silver-white, each flower being unique. Vigorous, it quickly forms beautiful clumps and its slightly scented flowers are as beautiful in the garden as they are in bouquets. It is an excellent variety, awarded several times.

The 'Anaconda Love' Iris is a perennial rhizomatous plant that develops from spring in elegantly upright clumps, with foliage disappearing in winter. It belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of the many cultivars obtained over the centuries, whose controversial origin is discussed around the number of chromosomes of potential ancestors. It should be noted that Garden Irises have European origins. They are plants that thrive in calcareous soils and require plenty of sunlight for their rhizomes to "cook" in summer in order to flower. A minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day is generally required.

'Anaconda Love' will reach a height of 60cm (24in) when in bloom, with several buds per stem. The clump will spread indefinitely over time, with the centre rhizomes giving way to the outer ones. The foliage consists of long, wide, sword-shaped leaves, a slightly glaucous green, with parallel veins. In April-May, floral stems appear that will produce flowers blooming from the top to the lower branches in May-June. The surprising colour of this plant is, as always with Garden Irises, magnified by the thick, iridescent texture of the upright petals and the trailing sepals. At the base of each sepal sits a pretty velvety orange beard.

Obtained by Brad Kasparek, 1999.

Awards: HM (Honorable Mention) in 2001, AM (Award of Merit) in 2003, and Knowlton Medal in 2006.

To accompany irises, choose plants to associate with them based on their needs (exposure, soil...) their "respectful" vegetation towards irises (low-growing or light foliage plants), and their decorative complementarity (appearance, flowering date). For example, Gaura will provide little shade to the irises and will keep the deflowered iris bed attractive throughout the summer. Eschscholzia will be satisfied with a dry soil in summer, just like the irises. Geraniums, salvias, and Libertia also go very well with irises. Slopes and terraced edges will be stabilized by a dense planting of old diploid varieties that can remain in place and require little care. If the goal is more decorative and access for maintenance is possible, you can choose more modern varieties, for example, intermediates that are less likely than tall ones to be literally knocked to the ground by wind and rain.

At the base of a wall, the relative shelter from the wind allows for the use of tall irises. Of course, you can also plant shorter and earlier varieties in the foreground.

Path border: the realm of early dwarf irises less than 40cm (16in) tall, up to intermediates (in size and earliness) and border irises, medium-sized but flowering with the tall ones.

Mass planting border: the domain of border irises but also dwarfs, depending on the circumstances.

Mixed-border: the entire range of sizes can be used, to be chosen according to the space (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 the full range of bearded irises allows for two and a half months of flowers in spring. The choice of so-called re-blooming irises offers some additional flowers in late summer or autumn, depending on the climate.

The vegetable garden can be adorned with a few clumps or borders of irises because it is also the classic place for the family cultivation of cut flowers.