Iris Lion King - Dutch iris

Iris 'Lion King' is a variety of Dutch Iris whose flowers display a very warm colour palette, in shades of gold, bronze, and coppery brown. This bulbous iris blooms earlier or later depending on the climate, between spring and early summer. Its large, delicate flowers charm with their elegance and their performance in borders, as well as in bouquets. The 'Lion King' iris truly deserves its royal name.

Dutch Iris, or bulbous iris, possesses an underground storage organ in the form of a bulb rather than a rootstock like their cousins, Iris germanica, or Bearded Iris. Belonging to the same botanical family, Iridaceae, they also differ by the absence of "beards"—those pretty little fuzzy, coloured tongues found on the trailing sepals of Iris germanica. Iris hollandica never grew wild in Dutch soil but originated from the cross-breeding of two main botanical species: Iris filifolia, sometimes confused with the similar-looking Iris xyphium, both native to Spain and North Africa, and Iris tingitana, from Tangier and northern Morocco. The genealogy of Dutch hybrids may be somewhat unclear, but the result is always remarkable. Their flowers are somewhat underused in gardens but highly prized in floristry. 
The Dutch Iris 'Lion King' forms an upright and very narrow clump over time, reaching 50-55 cm in flower. This perennial spreads through the production of bulblets. This cultivar blooms in late spring, typically in May-June, for 2 to 3 weeks, on sturdy stems. Its flowers, grouped in twos or threes on the stems, measure 8 to 10 cm in diameter and are relatively slender compared to those of Iris germanica, yet undeniably elegant. They consist of 3 large, upright, tapered, translucent petals in shades of coppery brown edged with bronze. Beneath this trio lie 3 nearly horizontal petals, closely linked to the toothed, petal-like styles at the margins, arranged in a staggered pattern. They are wider and spatulate, golden yellow, streaked with mahogany, brightened by a golden-yellow spot at the base. Each flower can last 5 to 7 days, even in a vase. The bulb is round, 2 to 3 cm wide, covered with a fibrous, pinkish-beige skin. It produces a few, thin and leathery, linear leaves, somewhat like grass, in a slightly glaucous green, often faintly striped and folded in half towards the ground. They often appear in autumn, persist more or less depending on winter severity, and dry out in summer during dormancy.

Dutch Iris are easy to grow in light, fertile soil and undeniably elegant. Plant them in groups of 10 to 20 bulbs of the same variety: they will return year after year, offering ever more elegant and cheerful flowers. They also look stunning when planted among perennials like daylilies, which will conceal their absence in summer when they are dormant. Their Mediterranean origins grant them excellent adaptation to summer drought. Finally, pick their flowers to create bouquets with arum lilies, lilies, or late tulips. All irises need a sunny spot to flower well. Give them at least half a day of full sun daily.