Iris Ring Around Rosie - Tall Bearded Iris

Iris 'Ring Around Rosie' (TB) is a beautiful variety of garden iris called "plicata", original, floriferous, and reliable. Its frilly flowers combine a unique pattern with a colour palette of white, magenta purple, and yellow. The plant quickly forms beautiful clumps that will bloom towards the end of the tall iris season. It is a multiple award-winning variety that stands out in flower beds in late spring.

Iris 'Ring Around Rosie' is a perennial, deciduous, upright rhizomatous plant. Iris germanica belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of the many cultivars obtained over the centuries, the controversial origin of which is debated in terms of the number of chromosomes of potential ancestors. It should be noted that bearded iris have European origins. 'Ring Around Rosie' is a tall variety, reaching 90 cm (35in) high when in bloom. It produces one floral stem per rhizome, bearing numerous flower buds. The clump will spread rapidly, with no theoretical limit over time, as the centre rhizomes become bare in favour of the outer rhizomes. The foliage consists of long, glaucous green, highly veined sword-shaped leaves. Floral stems appear in April and bloom in May-June, depending on the climate, from the top to the bottom. Each flower consists of 3 erect white petals finely edged with golden yellow, and 3 white sepals with a wide band of egg yolk yellow, punctuated with magenta purple. This spotting is more intense near the hairy yellow beards. The colour is enhanced by the silky and iridescent texture of the petals and sepals.

Obtained by Richard Ernst, 2000.

Awards: Honorable Mention in 2002 - Award of Merit in 2004 - Wister Medal in 2007.

To accompany irises, choose plants based on their needs (exposure, soil...), growth (low plants or light foliage), appearance and flowering time. For example, Gauras will cast little shade on irises and will keep the flower bed attractive throughout the summer. California Poppies (Eschscholzia) will be happy with dry, poor soil, just like irises. Perennial geraniums, salvias, and Libertia also pair well with irises. Slopes can be stabilised by dense plantings of vigorous old varieties that require little care. The vegetable garden can accommodate a few clumps of irises for cut flowers.