Iris Re La Blanche - Tall Bearded Iris

Iris germanica 'Re La Blanche' is a garden iris with beautiful flowers, a fleeting white-blue at first which quickly opens into pure white wavy and toothed petals, hiding small pale yellow beards with white tips at their heart. These perfect, numerous flowers bloom on a stout plant with vigorous growth, quite early in the iris season.

Iris 'Re La Blanche' is a perennial rhizomatous and deciduous plant, with an upright clumping habit which belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of many cultivars obtained over centuries, whose controversial origin is debated around the number of chromosomes of potential ancestors. It should be noted that Bearded Irises have European origins. 'Re La Blanche' will reach a height of 80-85 cm (32-34in) when in bloom. Its sturdy flower stalks bear numerous buds guaranteeing a long flowering period, and the clump spreads quickly, with no theoretical limit over time, as the central rhizomes become bare in favour of the outer rhizomes. The plant has an elegant upright habit in dense clumps of long sword-shaped, glaucous green and highly veined leaves. Its flowering is quite early. Floral stems appear in April with tightly packed flowers on the stems, opening from the top towards the lower branches. The colour is particularly bright, enhanced by the thick and iridescent texture of the petals and sepals. It should be noted that the flowers are also slightly fragrant.

Cayeux 2004 cultivar.

To accompany irises, choose plants based on their needs (exposure, soil...), growth (low-growing plants or light foliage), decorative appearance and flowering date. For example, Gaura plants will provide little shade and will keep the iris bed attractive throughout the summer. Eschscholzia will be happy with dry and poor soil, just like the irises. Geraniums, salvias, and Libertia also complement irises very well. Slopes and terraced edges can be stabilised by dense planting of old diploid varieties that require little care. If the goal is more decorative and access for care is possible, choose more modern varieties which are less likely to be knocked over. The vegetable garden can be embellished with a few clumps or borders of irises for cut flowers.