Iris germanica Making Eyes - Bearded Iris

Iris germanica Making Eyes is a hardy variety with delicate and charming flowers: the petals are milky white, and the sepals are plum, with a white pattern veined with violet around the lemon yellow beards. This iris is slightly taller and very early flowering, starting in early April. Ideal for borders.

The 'Making Eyes' Iris is an old variety with a long career in gardens, guaranteeing robustness and reliability. It is a rhizomatous and deciduous perennial plant, forming upright clumps from spring onwards. It belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of the many modest-sized cultivars that appeared in the 1950s. Originally the 'lilliput' category referred to the cross-breeding of an Iris pumila and a tall iris. This term now generally refers to the category of standard dwarf bearded irises (SDB). 'Making Eyes' will still reach a height of 35 cm (14in) when in flower, with numerous buds, and the clump will spread indefinitely over time, with the central rhizomes becoming bare in favour of the outer ones. It has a dense clumping habit. The foliage consists of long, glaucous green and highly veined, sword-shaped leaves. In March floral stems appear, which will produce flowers blooming from the top towards the lower branches starting in early April. The colour of this plant, as always with bearded irises, is enhanced by the texture of the petals and sepals.

Breeder: Blyth 1982.

To accompany the 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. Eschscholzia, like irises, will be satisfied with dry and poor soil. 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

Alongside a pathway: the entire range can be used, from dwarf early-flowering varieties under 40 cm (16in) tall, to tall irises over 75 cm (30in) tall that flower in May, as well as intermediates (in size and earliness) and border irises, which are medium-sized but flower with the tall varieties. Tall irises, when exposed to wind, may need staking to prevent them from being knocked over.

Edge of a flowerbed: the domain of border irises but also dwarfs, depending on the circumstances.

Mixed border: the entire range of sizes can be used, chosen based on position (front, back) and the size of the surrounding plants.