Iris germanica Wonder Never Cease - Tall Bearded Iris

Iris germanica 'Wonder Never Cease' is a tall, large-flowered garden iris of great class. A mid-season variety, reaching 1 m in height, its branched flower stems bear large flowers with irresistible charm. The erect central petals of a relatively uniform cream-white allow the trailing sepals to show off the complex beauty of their colours. Blending cream with brick red, sometimes verging on burgundy and chocolate, this harmony of hues is further enhanced by the conspicuous yellow beards. An imposing and attractive variety, easy to grow in well-drained, neutral to lime-rich soil.

Iris germanica 'Wonder Never Cease' is a rhizomatous perennial with deciduous foliage, forming vigorous, upright clumps. This tall bearded iris belongs to the Iridaceae family, like the popular Crocus and Gladiolus, or the less common but magnificent Crocosmias. The species Iris germanica, also known as the German iris, is thought to be the result of crosses between several botanical species. Classified among the bearded irises because of the small hairy crest on the sepals, it is one of the most popular and widely cultivated irises in gardens.
'Wonder Never Cease' is an American cultivar from the breeder Paul Black, introduced in 2007. At various horticultural shows, it has received numerous awards: Honorable Mention 2009, Favorite Guest 2009 and 2010, and finally an Award of Merit in 2011. It is a cross between 'Time Will Tell', a tall purple-toned iris, and a hybrid itself derived from 'Dream Of Gold' (golden, as its name suggests) and 'Epicenter', a deep purple. As is often the case with irises, the result is quite counterintuitive since 'Wonder Never Cease' offers a cream-white dominance, combined with gold and brick red more or less tinged with burgundy. A mid-season variety, it flowers between mid-April and mid-May depending on the region. Large branched flower stems emerge from the centre of the clump of long glaucous green leaves. They most often bear 3 flowers, set at different heights, which shows them off to great effect. Measuring 12 to 14 cm or more, they are admired from afar when in full bloom. The corollas are formed by three upright petals with delightfully crinkled edges, of a uniform cream-white, subtly edged with golden yellow. The three sepals, which emerge more or less horizontally, then curve gracefully downwards, as if to better display their finery. Coloured veins as if escaped from a pointillist painting cover most of the sepal, leaving only a cream-white peripheral margin matching the petals. One can distinguish a heart with a purplish dominance, then turning into a red burgundy intertwined with gold veins. A lovely golden-yellow beard further enhances this subtle combination of colours. Over time, the clump quickly expands. As with many bearded irises, the central rhizomes tend to gradually become bare while the more peripheral ones ensure the plant's expansion.

Iris 'Wonder Never Cease' is one of those majestic varieties whose flowering we eagerly await each year. However, it should be borne in mind that this flowering is quite brief, two to three weeks, and afterwards the overall appearance of the clump is much less attractive. That is why it is advisable to combine other plants in a bed to take over at the end of May, hiding the foliage that has become unsightly. Nevertheless, remember to leave a little space around your iris clumps so that you can divide them when the time comes, without harming the other plants. To herald spring, you can plant a few bulbs that will brighten the first fine days. Low-growing ground-cover perennials like Nepetas will be perfect for hiding the somewhat dried leaves of your Iris in summer. You can trim them back without fear when you need to extract your iris rhizomes; they will regrow quickly. Also consider ornamental grasses, which, swayed by the wind, will bring dynamism to your scene.