Iris Red Orchid - Bearded Iris

Iris 'Red Orchid' is an intermediate garden iris, in size and flowering time. Its large, narrow, and tall flowers are very different to the wide, wavy corollas of recent cultivars and possess the simple and charming lines of indestructible varieties still found in old gardens. Their colour is fascinating, a light burgundy red on the upright petals, a purple-garnet with a violet centre on the trailing sepals. The whole flower is enhanced by a large yellow-orange beard surrounded by violet stripes, and a velvety texture.

Introduced in 1934 in the United States (Nebraska) by Jacob Sass, the 'Red Orchid' Iris is a beautiful hybrid obtained by cross-breeding an Iris pumila (dwarf iris) with an unknown variety of Garden Iris. It is a rhizomatous and deciduous perennial plant, with an upright clumping habit from spring. It belongs to the Iridaceae family and the Intermediate Iris group.

'Red Orchid' is a vigorous and prolific variety. It will reach 60 to 70 cm (24 to 28in) when in bloom, and the clump will spread without a theoretical limit over time, with the central rhizomes becoming bare in favour of the outer rhizomes. The plant has an elegant upright habit in dense clumps consisting of long sword-shaped, glaucous green and highly veined leaves. Flowering is slightly earlier than tall bearded irises. In April, floral stems appear with flowers distributed along the stems, blooming from the top to the lower branches. The floral parts, petals and sepals, are quite narrow and slightly soft in texture. This plant is close to red, rare in German iris varieties. It should be noted that the flowers are also fragrant.

To accompany irises, plants should be chosen based on their needs (exposure, soil...), their growth habit (low-growing or light foliage plants), and their decorative appearance and flowering time. For example, Gaura plants will provide little shade to irises and will keep the faded iris bed attractive throughout the summer. Eschscholzia will be content with dry and poor soil, just like irises. Geraniums, salvias, and Libertia also accompany irises very well. Slopes and terraced edges can be stabilised by dense plantings of old diploid varieties that require little care. If the goal is more decorative and access for maintenance is possible, more modern varieties can be chosen, such as intermediates that are less likely to be toppled than tall varieties.

At the base of a wall, the relative shelter from the wind allows the use of tall irises. Of course, shorter and earlier varieties can also be planted in the foreground.

Path border: the entire range can be used, from early dwarfs under 40 cm (16in), to tall irises over 75 cm (30in) that bloom in May, including intermediates (in size and earliness) and border irises, which are medium-sized but bloom with the tall varieties. Tall irises often bend if not staked, as they are very exposed to the wind.

Mass planting border: border irises, but also dwarfs.

Mixed border: the entire size range can be used, depending on the position (foreground, background) and the size of neighbouring plants.

Iris bed, iris garden: the kingdom of iris lovers, where the choice and arrangement of varieties reflect individual tastes. The use of the entire range of bearded irises allows for approximately two and a half months of flowers in spring. Reblooming irises offer some additional flowers in late summer or autumn.

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