Iris germanica Cigarillo - Bearded Iris

The 'Cigarillo' German Iris vibrates with all its honey and burnt gold-toned flowers under the spring sun. Its medium-sized corollas are numerous and well distributed along stout and perfectly balanced floral spikes, succeeding each other for three weeks. It is a variety that will not go unnoticed in flower beds, offering a lively and warm touch to the garden. Stunning with blue flowers!

The 'Cigarillo' Iris is a rhizomatous perennial plant that develops in spring into elegantly upright clumps, with its foliage disappearing in winter. It belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of the many cultivars obtained over 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 crave sunlight, with their rhizomes needing to 'cook' in summer to be able to flower. A minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day is generally required.

'Cigarillo' is derived from the varieties "Grand Canari" and "Coup de Soleil". The plant will reach an average height of 75cm (30in) when in bloom, with an average of 10 buds per stem. The clump will spread without a theoretical limit over time, with the central rhizomes becoming bare in favour of the outer rhizomes. The foliage consists of long and wide sword-shaped leaves, of a slightly glaucous green colour, traversed by parallel veins. In April, floral stems appear which will produce numerous flowers well distributed on the stems in the middle of May, blooming from the top towards the lower branches. Each flower measures approximately 12cm (5in) in height and 11cm (4in) in width. The coppery yellow colour of this plant is, as always with Garden Irises, enhanced by the thick and iridescent texture of the erect petals and trailing sepals. Note that the flower is adorned with pretty orange beards at the throat.

Obtained by Cayeux, 2015.

Award: Best French iris Franciris® 2017

To accompany irises, one should choose plants that are "respectful" of irises, low-growing or with light foliage, that will not suffocate them. For example, Gaura plants will cast little shade on the irises and will keep the faded iris bed attractive throughout the summer. California Poppies and Love-in-a-Mist will thrive in the same dry soil conditions as irises. Salvias and Libertia also complement irises very well. Slopes and retaining walls can be stabilized by dense plantings of old iris varieties that can remain in place and require little care. If the goal is more decorative and easy access for maintenance, one can choose more modern varieties, such as intermediates, which will be less prone to being literally flattened by wind and rain.

The vegetable garden can be embellished with a few clumps or borders of irises, as it is also the classic location for the family cultivation of cut flowers.