Iris Rip City - Bearded Iris

Everyone knows Iris germanica, which has become world famous thanks to the paintings of Van Gogh and Monet. It owes its popularity to its unique design.

Its wide sword-shaped leaves contrast with crumpled, multicoloured flowers perched high up. The flowers have the particularity of forming three large upright petals and three silky, trailing sepals, called "beards". The flowering lasts a few weeks in May/June. This Iris has large fleshy rhizomes creeping on the ground. It likes light, heat, and light, well-drained soils. It is doesn't mind cold or summer drought, its enemy is moisture, especially in heavy soils. Superb in a sunny bed, it is also loved for making bouquets.

The variety of Garden Iris Rip City is 100 cm (39in) high. It is closer to crimson red than any other variety, and its branching is exceptional with low branching and 10 to 13 buds per stem. Its beard is mandarin orange.

Very resistant, it should be exposed to full sun, in dry and well-drained soil.

Place Rip City Iris in a bed or border, in the company of yarrows, alliums, stipas, or roses. It is better to scatter them in groups of 3 or alone instead of creating homogeneous iris beds.