Iris germanica Going My Way - Bearded Iris

Iris 'Going My Way', also known as the tall bearded iris, remains a favourite in the plicata category. It produces white flowers with wide violet cardinal edges and speckles, with both colours perfectly distributed on elegant flowers. This quite old variety is unmatched, both for its vibrant design and the excellent substance of its floral parts. It blooms towards the end of the season. Its growth is vigorous, and it quickly forms beautiful clumps. Ideal for borders or embankments.

'Going My Way' is a rhizomatous and deciduous perennial plant, with upright clumps from spring onwards. It belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of the many cultivars obtained over centuries, with a controversial origin that revolves around the number of chromosomes of potential ancestors. It should be noted that garden irises have European origins. 'Going My Way' will reach 90cm (35in) in height when flowering, with numerous buds, and the clump will spread indefinitely over time, with the centre rhizomes becoming bare in favour of the outer rhizomes. It has an elegant upright habit in dense clumps. The foliage consists of long sword-shaped leaves, which are glaucous green and heavily veined. In April, floral stems appear, which will produce flowers in May-June, opening from the top towards the lower branches. The colour of this plant is, as always with garden irises, enhanced by the thick texture of the petals and sepals.

To accompany the irises, plants should be chosen based on their needs (exposure, soil), their "respectful" growth towards irises (low-growing or light foliage plants), and their complementary style (appearance, flowering time). For example, gaura plants 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 and poor soil, just like the irises. Geraniums, salvias, and Libertia also accompany irises very well. Embankments and terraced edges will be stabilised by dense plantings of old diploid varieties that can stay in place and require little care. If you want a more decorative aspect, choose more modern varieties, such as intermediates that are less likely to be knocked over than the tall ones.

The base of a wall provides some shelter from wind, enabling you to plant taller irises. They can also be planted in the foreground of shorter and earlier varieties.

Border: the entire range can be used, from early dwarfs under 40cm (16in), to tall irises over 75cm (30in) flowering in May, including intermediates (in size and earliness) and border irises, which are medium-sized but flowering with the tall ones. Tall irises exposed to the wind may need staking to prevent them from being knocked over.

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

Mixed border: the entire range of sizes can be used, chosen according to the location (foreground, background) and the size of the surrounding plants.

Iris bed, iris garden: the paradise of iris lovers where the choice and arrangement of varieties (shape, colour, fragrance) reflects each person's taste. The use of the whole range of bearded irises results in two and a half months of spring flowers. Choosing reblooming irises offers some additional flowers in late summer or autumn.

The vegetable garden can be adorned with a few clumps or borders of irises, as it is also the classic place for growing flowers for cutting.