Iris hollandica Telstar - Dutch Iris

Iris x hollandica 'Telstar' is a particularly elegant Dutch iris, both in the delicate curve of its flower and in its ceramic colours. This bulbous plant blooms in spring, for 2 to 3 weeks, earlier or later depending on the climate. Its stylized flowers of intense bluish violet are adorned with small yellow gold spots bordered in white. Refined and colourful, Dutch Iris flowers stand out for their elegance in the garden as well as in bouquets. They are hardy bulbs that are easy to grow in full sun, in fertile and well-drained soil.

Dutch Irises, or bulbous irises, have an underground storage organ in the form of a bulb, unlike their famous cousins, the Bearded Iris, or Garden Iris. Belonging to the same botanical family as the latter, the Iridaceae family, they also differ from them in the absence of "beards", those pretty little fluffy and colourful tongues found on the drooping sepals of bearded irises. The first Dutch irises have never grown in the wild on Dutch soil. They are the result of cross-breeding between two main botanical species: Iris filifolia, sometimes confused with Iris xyphium which resembles it, both native to Spain and North Africa, and Iris tingitana, from Tangier and northern Morocco. The genealogy of Dutch hybrids is sometimes confusing, but the result is always remarkable. Their flowers, somewhat underused in the garden, are highly appreciated in floristry.

The 'Telstar' Dutch Iris forms over time a tall and very narrow clump of 55cm (22in) when in bloom. This perennial spreads without theoretical limit through the production of bulblets. This cultivar blooms in spring, usually in May-June (much earlier in the south), for 2 to 3 weeks, on thin but sturdy stems that withstand the wind. Its solitary or paired flowers on the stems, 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in) in diameter, are relatively thin compared to those of Bearded Iris, but undeniably elegant. They are of an intense and rich bluish violet, very uniform. Each flower is composed of 3 upright, slender, translucent petals of small size. Below this trio are 3 semi-drooping petals, closely attached to the dentate petaloid styles, arranged in a staggered pattern. Wider, they are highlighted by a superb yellow gold spot surrounded by a white margin. Each flower can live for 5 to 7 days, even in a vase. The bulb is round, 2 to 3cm (1in) wide, covered with a fibrous tunic of a rosy beige colour. It produces a few linear, thin and leathery leaves, somewhat resembling those of a leek or a grass, with a slightly glaucous green colour, often slightly striated and folded in half towards the ground. They often appear in autumn, persist to varying degrees depending on the severity of the winter, and dry up in summer during the dormant period.

Often overlooked by gardeners in favour of Bearded Iris, Dutch Irises are nevertheless easy to grow in fertile and light soil. With undeniable elegance, they are indifferent to wild weeds that struggle to infiltrate their very vertical clumps. Plant them in groups of 10 to 20 bulbs of the same variety: they will come back year after year to offer you more and more refined and cheerful flowers. They are also stunning when planted among perennials such as peonies and daylilies, which will mask their absence in summer. Their Mediterranean origins make them highly adaptable to summer drought. Lastly, pick their flowers to create bouquets with the first roses, calla lilies, lilies, or even late tulips. All irises need a sunny exposure to bloom well. Provide them with at least half a day of full sun.