Dutch Iris 'Lilac Beauty'

Botanical Name: Iris xiphium

Family: Iridaceae

Plant Type: Bulb

Size (HxW): 50-90cm x 15cm

Depth & Spacing: Plant 10-15cm deep and space 10-15cm apart, pointed end up. They look best in groups.

Soil: Moderately fertile to humus rich, moist, well drained soil is ideal, but as long as they have good drainage they are pretty adaptable.

Aspect: Full sun. Will take more shade in warmer climates.

Climate: Cool to Subtropical

Frost: Hardy

Water: Water to establish, and keep moist during active growth. The autumn/winter rainfall is usually enough to sustain them but if there is prolonged dry during their development you will need to water at this time. Keep relatively dry during dormancy - keep this in mind if you are inter-planting with thirsty summer plants in poorly drained soils as they may rot and they tend to flower better with a hot, dry summer. If summer is too moist and or cold they can rot – if this is the case you can dig them once they have faded and replant next autumn.

Fertiliser: Apply a light application of a well-balanced fertiliser at planting and each spring when they emerge, or in autumn as they fade.

Flowering Time: Late spring, Oct/Nov for us, but if you don’t have frost they will likely bloom earlier.

After Flower Care: Cut off any spent blooms to tidy and encourage bulb growth. Bulbs can be left in the ground to naturalise. Lift as required (if they are overcrowded) once the foliage has died back (every three to five years). Once replanted, they may take a season to flower as they resent disturbance.

Notes: The flowers are great in a vase and will last around 4-5 days, cut as the buds begin to colour. If you cut their stems shorter they will last around a week. Keep an eye out for aphids and remove them as required. Dutch Iris can look great in pots, it is important to keep them moist in growth, potting mix is perfectly drained so dries easily which may affect their development.