Dwarf Bearded Iris 'Strawberry Love'

An all time favourite of ours and one very in vogue for landscapers and florists. Gently ruffled, soft pink standards with hints of apricot. The falls are a deeper rose pink to mauve with marked veins. Dwarf Bearded Iris are more compact and flower earlier than the standard forms of Bearded Iris. These mini marvels are simply superb in large and small gardens and of course pots. They even make great cut flowers. Dwarf Bearded Iris are easy care and will bring plenty of colour to your beds. Their late spring show bridges the gap between the spring and summer blooms. In ideal conditions they can be in bloom for a month or more, beginning just as the tulips are fading. They can even spot flower through the year. The sword like, blue green foliage of Dwarf Bearded Iris opens in a fan shape, it stands tall and handsome as a year round feature. It should be noted that in some climates they are semi evergreen, so if the leaves start to look a little lack lustre, simply cut them right back, new ones will soon re-shoot. Dwarf Bearded Iris will thrive in any well drained soil in a sunny position (6-8 hours), and will flower better with frost. Plant your Dwarf Bearded Iris rhizome at the soil surface, with the top exposed (at the point where the green growth starts). The rhizome should be kept clear of other plants and weeds for best blooms. Water to establish, then only if rainfall is low. An annual application of rose/tomato/low nitrogen fertiliser in early spring will keep them happy. It is best to ensure you protect your plants from slugs and snails. Bearded Iris grow well in VIC, TAS, SA, the south of WA and inland Qld and NSW. They don’t enjoy the humidity of coastal zones north of Sydney and the winters are not cold enough. Dwarf Bearded Iris make an excellent companion plant for roses.