Iris germanica Friendly Seas

'Iris germanica 'Friendly Seas'' is a variety of bearded iris that combines many qualities. The plant is exceptionally vigorous, very floriferous, and its iridescent mauve-blue flowers are incredibly charming. The plant quickly forms beautiful clumps that will bloom towards the end of the iris season, in spring. Create wonderful bouquets with its blooming stems, along with lilacs and peonies, for example.

The 'Friendly Seas' Iris is a deciduous rhizomatous perennial. It forms an upright clump starting in spring, and its foliage disappears in winter. Like all Iris germanica, it belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of many cultivars obtained over the centuries, with debate about their disputed origins revolving around the number of chromosomes of potential ancestors. It should be noted that Bearded Irises have European origins. 'Friendly Seas' is a tall variety, reaching 90 cm (35in) in height when flowering. Each rhizome produces a flower stem that carries up to 10 flower buds. The clump will spread rapidly and indefinitely over time, as the central rhizomes become bare in favour of the outer ones. The foliage consists of long sword-shaped leaves, glaucous green, with prominent veins. In April the flower stems appear, which will produce medium-sized flowers in May-June, earlier or later depending on the climate, moderately undulate, with a "natural" shape, blooming from the top down towards the lower branches. The pastel colouring of this plant is, as always with bearded Irises, enhanced by the thick, silky, and iridescent petals and sepals.

Created by J. Terry Aitken in 2001.

Awards: Honorable Mention in 2005.

To complement irises, choose plants based on their needs (sunlight, soil), their "respectful" growth habit vis-a-vis irises (low-growing plants or light foliage), and how they complement each other visually (appearance, flowering period). For example, Gauras will cast little shade and will keep the bed attractive throughout summer once the irises have flowered. California Poppies (Eschscholzia), like irises, will be satisfied with dry and poor soil. Perennial geraniums, salvias, and Libertia also complement irises very well. Slopes and terraced edges can be stabilised by dense planting of old diploid varieties that can remain in place and require little care. If the goal is more decorative and access for care is possible one can choose more modern varieties, such as intermediates that are less likely than tall varieties to be knocked over by wind and rain.