Iris germanica Grape Snakez

Iris germanica 'Grape Snakez' is a variety of tall bearded iris that will delight admirers of unusual colours. It is a variety classified as 'broken colours', with flowers that are striped and curiously variegated, making them perfectly original. This one has beautifully undulating corollas made of light caramel petals veined with silvery white and speckled with purple, and sepals variegated with dark purple and white, making each flower unique. Its slightly fragrant flowers are as astonishing in the garden as they are in bouquets.

The 'Grape Snakez' Iris is a rhizomatous perennial plant that develops from spring into elegantly upright clumps, with its foliage disappearing 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. They are plants that thrive in calcareous soils and require ample sunlight, with their rhizomes needing to 'bake' in summer in order to bloom. A minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day is generally required.

'Grape Snakez' will reach a height of 90 cm (35in) when in bloom, with 7 to 10 buds per stem. The clump will spread indefinitely over time, with the central rhizomes becoming bare in favour of the outer ones. The foliage consists of long and wide sword-shaped leaves, with a slightly glaucous green colour and parallel veins. In April-May floral stems appear that will give flowers in May, in the middle of the tall iris season, blooming from the top down to the lower branches. The surprising colour of this plant is, as always with bearded Iris, enhanced by the thick and iridescent texture of the erect petals and trailing sepals. At the base of each sepal, there is a lovely velvety beard in a bronze to dark gold colour.

Bred by Brad Kasparek, 1999.

Award: Honorable Mention (HM) in 2001

To accompany 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. The vegetable garden can also accommodate a few clumps of irises, as a place dedicated to growing cut flowers.