Iris germanica Baie des Anges - Bearded Iris

Iris germanica 'Baie des Anges' is a garden iris that is distinguished by the very pure blue colour of its flowers, accentuated by beards of a bright orange. Although not enormous, these corollas have a charming shape, slightly undulating, without heaviness. The plant forms rather stout flowering stems carrying 6 to 7 flower buds. A moderate number of flowers compensated by the beauty of their colour. 'Baie des Anges' blooms in the middle of the season of tall irises, in May.

The 'Baie des Anges' Iris is a rhizomatous perennial plant, deciduous. Its foliage appears in spring and disappears in winter. It belongs to the Iridaceae family like all germanica irises. It is one of the many cultivars obtained for centuries, whose controversial origin is discussed around the number of chromosomes of potential ancestors. It should be noted that Garden Irises have European origins. 'Baie des Anges' is a fairly low variety, which will reach 80cm (32in) in height when flowering, with a solid floral stem through rhizome. The clump will spread quickly, without theoretical limit over time, with the centre rhizomes becoming bare in favour of the external rhizomes. The foliage consists of long, undulate-shaped, glaucous green leaves, highly veined. In April, the flowering stems appear, which will give flowers in May, more or less early depending on the climate, blooming from the top to the lower branches. Each flower is composed of 3 erect petals of a light blue to medium blue, uniformly coloured, and 3 semi-horizontal sepals of the same colour adorned with 3 velvety beards of a bright orange. Some white streaks can be observed around the beard. The colour of this plant is, as always with Garden Irises, magnified by the texture of silky and iridescent petals and sepals.

Obtained by Cayeux, 2014.

To companion plant irises, one should choose plants to associate based on their needs (exposure, soil...), their non-suffocating vegetation for their rhizomes (low plants or light foliage), and their complementarity (appearance, flowering date). For example, Gauras will provide little shade to the irises and will keep the flowerbed attractive throughout the summer. California Poppies (Eschscholzia) will be satisfied with a dry and poor soil, just like the irises. Perennial geraniums, salvias, and Libertias also accompany irises very well. Slopes will be stabilized by a dense planting of vigorous old varieties that can remain in place and require little care. The vegetable garden can accommodate a few clumps of irises, as it is also the place dedicated to cut flowers.