Iris Oh! Susannah - Tall Bearded Iris

Iris Oh! Susannah is a variety of tall bearded iris with beautifully formed flowers with wavy petals, a solid amethyst colour enhanced by a blue blush under the beards. Its medium-height flower stems bear numerous buds, ensuring a long flowering period. A variety that beautifully concludes the season of tall bearded irises!

Iris Oh! Susannah is a perennial, deciduous rhizomatous plant that grows in clumps from spring. Like all Iris germanica, it belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of the many cultivars that have been obtained over the centuries, and its controversial origin is debated in terms of the number of chromosomes of potential ancestors. Note that Garden Irises have European origins. They thrive in limestone soil and require plenty of sunlight, with their rhizomes needing to 'bake' in the summer in order to bloom. A minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day is traditionally required.

'Oh! Susannah' will reach a height of 80 cm (32in) when in bloom. The plant will spread indefinitely over time, with the central rhizomes thinning out in favour of the outer rhizomes. The foliage consists of long and wide sword-shaped, slightly glaucous green leaves, with parallel veins running through them. Floral stems appear in April with beautiful, undulating flowers in May-June, blooming from the top down towards the lower branches. They consist of 3 upright petals of deep amethyst, 3 nearly horizontal sepals of the same colour but with a bluish centre, and 3 beards with a bronze base and blue tip. As is always the case with Garden Irises, the colour is enhanced by the thick and velvety texture of the floral parts.

Obtained by Cayeux, 2019.

To accompany irises, choose plants based on their needs (exposure, soil...), vegetation (low-growing plants or light foliage, non-competitive plants), decorative appearance and flowering period. For example, Gauras will cast little shade on the irises and will keep the iris bed attractive throughout the summer. California Poppies and Love-in-a-Mist will tolerate dry soil in summer, just like the irises. Perennial geraniums, salvias, and Libertia also pair well with irises. Slopes, the base of small trees with light foliage, and terraced edges will be stabilized by dense plantings of old varieties that require little care. If the goal is more decorative and access for care is possible, more modern varieties can be chosen, for example, intermediates that are less likely to be flattened by wind and rain.

The vegetable garden can be enhanced with a few clumps or borders of irises for cut flowers.