Iris Rose de Perse - Tall bearded iris

Iris 'Rose de Perse' is a charming and colourful variety of Bearded Iris. Around mid-May, it produces large, strikingly architectural flowers on long stems that showcase them beautifully above the glaucous green foliage. The predominantly pink corollas are enhanced by a deep purple-violet border on the sepals, along with a stunning coral-red beard. Easy to grow in most well-drained soils, this Iris thrives in full sun, whether in a flower bed or a large rock garden.

Iris lends its name to the Iridaceae family, which includes many other ornamental genera, primarily perennial plants with bulbs, corms, or rhizomes, such as the magnificent Crocosmias. While the Iris genus was discovered in Egypt nearly 3000 years BCE, Iris germanica originates from Syria. It is considered the ancestor of our modern Bearded Irises, called Bearded Irises due to the hairy appendices on the surface of the sepals.
Iris 'Rose de Perse' is a creation by the French breeder Cayeux, a nursery specialising since the late 21st century and based in the Loiret region. Its parent varieties are also two Cayeux cultivars: 'Chevalier de Malte' and 'Poésie'.
A beautiful synthesis of its parents, 'Rose de Perse' is a medium-sized Iris, reaching 85 cm in height and forming clumps 45 cm wide. Its sword-shaped leaves are slightly glaucous green and overlapping at the base, forming graceful fan-like arrangements. In spring, the clump produces highly branched flowering stems, bearing up to nine flower buds. These open around mid-May (earlier in warm climates and later in colder regions). The corollas consist of three upright petals, concealing the three-branched style (the female sexual part), and three horizontally inserted sepals that trail gracefully at the tips. The six floral segments feature an elegant wavy margin, worthy of a haute couture designer. The petals are monochromatic, in a romantic soft apricot-pink hue. The sepals are veined with the same slightly paler pink, blending into a deep purple-violet border that creates a striking contrast. The beard at the base of the sepal is coral-red with a hint of orange. The large flowers measure up to 12-13 cm, blooming for about three weeks until June, and emit a delicate, pleasant fragrance.

Iris 'Rose de Perse' will delight Iris enthusiasts with its generous, romantic-style flowering. Pair it with early-flowering varieties to extend the blooming season. However, it’s wise not to limit yourself to Irises alone, as while their flowers are stunning, their post-flowering appearance isn’t particularly ornamental... Combine them with other plants that will divert attention from their faded summer look. Gauras, with their airy, delicate flowers and long summer bloom, are perfect for taking over. Evening Primroses, with their bright pink or yellow flowers, depending on the variety, will be equally suited to this role, as will charming Daylilies with their star-shaped blooms.