Iris Saturn - Tall Bearded Iris

Iris Saturn is a Bearded Iris with large, frilly flowers in a rich, dark and soft colour, beautifully enhanced by long orange beards. The flower is generally bicoloured with petals and sepals of the same colour in different intensities. These petals are a deep pinkish-purple and the velvety sepals are a very dark violet with black highlights. The plant is vigorous and healthy and its stems bear numerous flower buds. 

Iris 'Saturn' is a rhizomatous, deciduous perennial plant that grows in clumps from spring. It belongs to the Iridaceae family and is one of the many cultivars obtained over centuries, with a controversial origin that is 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 their rhizomes needing to 'cook' in the summer in order to bloom. A minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day is generally required.

Iris 'Saturn' will reach a height of 85 cm (34in) when in bloom, making it a medium-sized variety. The clump will spread indefinitely over time, with the central rhizomes becoming bare in favour of the outer ones. The foliage consists of long, wide sword-shaped, slightly glaucous green leaves with parallel veins. This variety flowers in the middle of the iris season, with well-branched floral stems, each carrying 3 branches and up to 9-11 flower buds. Floral stems appear in April-May with large, wavy flowers blooming in May-June from the top to the lower branches. Each flower is composed of 3 upright, deep beet-red flowers and 3 wide and velvety sepals a black cherry colour with a slightly lighter halo. The burnt orange beards add some spice to this dark ensemble. The colour is magnified by the iridescent and velvety texture of the floral parts. The flowers have a light fragrance.

Breeder: Thomas Johnson (USA), 2005

Awards: Honorable Mention 2007, Award of Merit 2010.

To accompany irises, choose plants based on their needs (exposure, soil...), growth (low-growing plants or light foliage), decorative appearance and flowering time. For example, Gauras will provide little shade to the irises and will keep the faded iris bed attractive throughout the summer. California Poppies and Love-in-a-Mist will thrive in the same dry soil as the iris. Hardy Geraniums, salvias, and Libertias also complement 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 care is possible, more modern varieties can be chosen, such as intermediates that are less likely to be blown down by wind and rain.

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