Iris sibirica Dance Ballerina Dance - Siberian Iris

Iris sibirica 'Dance Ballerina Dance' produces beautiful white and lilac-pink flowers with a touch of brown at their centre. This perennial plant blooms in spring. It forms a sculptural clump of linear, green leaves reaching 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in) high. The deciduous leaves turn yellow in autumn before you cut them. Easy to grow, the Siberian iris thrives in sun and partial shade in warm climates and adapts to any soil that is not too dry.

Iris sibirica is a rhizomatous perennial plant of the Iridaceae family. In its natural state, it grows on heathlands and moist meadows in central and eastern Europe, northeastern Turkey, and Russia. In France, it is considered an endangered and protected species. The proposed varieties are notably derived from the hybridisation of I. sibirica and I. sanguinea. Their flowers are generally larger and present a great diversity of colours.

‘Dance Ballerina Dance’ was obtained in 1982 by Steve Varner. It forms a robust clump of narrow, upright, deciduous leaves. In May-June, unique and bicolour flowers emerge from the foliage. The 3 sepals are light lilac-pink marked with a golden-brown tip at the base and the 3 petals and stigmas are white, thus offering a delicate contrast. The flowers reach a height of about 80cm (32in). In autumn, the leaves turn yellow and dry up.

Plant 'Dance Ballerina Dance' in groups to create a mass effect or plant it with other varieties with complementary colours. Iris sibirica 'Sparkling Rose' and I. 'Rikugi Sakura' will work particularly well. It is the ideal plant to vegetate the surroundings of a water feature or pond or if your soil is moist. It will also make a sensation in an English garden, in a mixed border or a bed. Plant it with other pink perennial plants fond of moist soil, like the daylily 'Amethyst Jewel' and Delphinium 'Strawberry Fair'. Once well established, it withstands drought quite well, but it will be more comfortable in not too dry soil. Its flowers are ideal for making bouquets.