Iris germanica Protocol - Bearded Iris

'Protocol' is an intermediate bearded iris with cheerful flowers in a bright harmony of cream white and lemon yellow. Its ruffled flowers display the classic amoena pattern: the petals are very pale and the sepals are richly coloured. This very vivid flowering, which occurs at the beginning of the bearded iris season, pairs well with blues, purples and silver foliage in borders. 

With its flower stalks about 58 cm tall, 'Protocol' is classified among the Intermediate Bearded Iris, a group suited to adorning borders and the front of beds. These irises measure from 41 to 70 cm and form the transition between the earlier dwarf irises and the later tall bearded irises. They flower between late April and May, depending on the climate. In 'Protocol', the stems are quite short and carry several buds, which open one after another.

This iris belongs to the Iridaceae family. Iris germanica is a perennial with fleshy rhizomes that has given rise to thousands of cultivars that have been grown in gardens for a very long time. Its leaves are glaucous green, elongated, upright, pointed, arranged in a fan. They persist more or less in winter depending on the climate. The flowering of 'Protocol' occurs towards the beginning of the intermediate iris season. Its flowers are well ruffled and slightly crisped on the edges. The three upright petals are white, washed with lemon yellow in the centre. The three trailing sepals are a more intense yellow than dandelion yellow, slightly paler at the margin. The beards are white at the tip, chrome yellow in the middle and cadmium yellow in the throat. The fragrance is light. The clump grows slowly via its rhizomes which lengthen and multiply at the periphery.

'Protocol' is a Keith Keppel introduction, registered in 1994 and introduced in 1996. Its seedling number is 90-6M. It results from the cross-breeding between 'Over Easy' and 'Amber Snow'. This variety has received several American awards: Honorable Mention in 1998, Walther Cup in 1998, Award of Merit in 2000 and Hans and Jacob Sass Medal in 2002. The latter medal is reserved for Intermediate Bearded Iris. 

This variety with its very spring-like colouring combines easily with bluish-purple, dark purple or pinkish white blooms. Along a path or in a raised border, you can associate it with the intermediate bearded iris 'Black Watch', which accentuates its yellow colouring by contrast. The Allium amplectens 'Graceful' accompanies its spring flowering with great lightness. The Salvia nemorosa 'Marcus' takes over with compact bluish-purple spikes. A few clumps of Armeria maritima 'Alba', placed at a distance from the rhizomes, can be planted at the front of the iris clumps.