Iris Plaisantin - Tall Bearded Iris

Iris 'Plaisantin' is a bearded iris that is not very large, nor does it have large flowers, but it does have a complex, unusual colour. The compact flowers are a perfect blend of mauve and purplish lavender tones with a beautiful mandarin orange beard. The flower stems are quite short, matched to the size of the flowers, and less prone to bending under the effect of wind and rain. A lovely mid-season variety for borders or flower beds.

Iris 'Plaisantin' is a perennial, deciduous rhizomatous plant that develops elegantly upright clumps. It belongs to the Iris family. It is one of the many cultivars obtained over centuries, with its controversial origin being debated around the number of chromosomes of potential ancestors. It should be noted that bearded irises have European origins. They are plants that thrive in chalky soils and require plenty of sunlight, with the rhizomes needing to 'bake' in summer to flower well. A minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day is generally required.

Iris 'Plaisantin' reaches 70 cm (28in) high on average, when in bloom, with several buds per flower stem. The clump 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. Flower stems appear in April and produce several flowers that bloom from the top to the bottom in May. The colour is magnified by the thick and iridescent texture of the flowers. The 3 erect petals are smoky purplish lavender with a caramel edge, the 3 drooping sepals are velvety purple, and the beards are bright orange.

Obtained by Cayeux, 2020.

To accompany the irises, choose plants that are either low-growing or with light foliage that won't suffocate them. For example, Gaura will provide little shade to the irises and will keep the faded iris bed attractive all summer long. California Poppies and Love-in-a-Mist tolerate dry soil in summer, just like irises. Sage and Libertia also complement irises very well. Slopes and retaining walls can be stabilised by dense plantings of old iris varieties that require little care. If the goal is more decorative and easy access for care, choose more modern varieties that are less likely to be flattened by wind and rain.

The vegetable garden can be embellished with a few clumps or borders of irises for cutting.