Iris x hollandica Bronze Queen

The Iris (x) hollandica 'Bronze Queen' is an original and refined variety of Dutch Iris, whose large bicolored flowers display an unusual colour for these hybrids. They feature different shades of violet-purple infused with smoky mauve for the upright petals, and dark yellow with bronze and orange highlights for the sepals. This bulbous iris blooms in early summer, more or less early depending on the climate, producing large, stylized flowers that stand out for their elegance and mass display, as well as in bouquets. The 'Bronze Queen' flower is a true masterpiece that should be showcased in the garden.

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

The Bronze Queen cultivar eventually forms an erect and very narrow clump of 50-60 cm (20-24in) in flower, this perennial spreads indefinitely through the production of bulblets. This cultivar blooms in late spring, usually in May-June, for 2 to 3 weeks, on wind-resistant stems. Its solitary or paired flowers on the stems, 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4in) in diameter, are relatively slender compared to those of German irises, but undeniably elegant. They consist of 3 upright, translucent, slender petals of small size, in shades of violet, mauve, and smoky. Beneath this trio are 3 almost horizontal petals, closely linked to the dentate petaloid styles on the edges, arranged in quincunx. Wider, they are spatulate, marked with bronze and darker veins, illuminated by a golden yellow spot at the base. Each flower can last for 5 to 7 days, even in a vase. The bulb is round, about 2 to 3 cm (1in) wide, covered with a fibrous tunic of pinkish beige. It produces a few linear, thin and leathery leaves, somewhat resembling those of 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 during the dormant period.

Less known and less used by gardeners than German irises, Dutch irises are nevertheless easy to grow in light and fertile soil and have undeniable elegance. 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 elegant and joyful flowers, which go well with the spring flowering of flowering shrubs. They also look stunning when planted among perennials like peonies and daylilies, which will conceal their absence in summer when they are dormant. Their Mediterranean origins make them highly adapted to summer drought. Finally, pick their flowers to create bouquets with roses, arums, or even late tulips. All irises need a sunny exposure to bloom well. Give them at least half a day of full sun per day.