DUTCH IRISES FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY DISPLAY

Despite having gardened for over fifty years, it never fails to surprise me just how beautiful different flowering plants can be. This year I have bought and planted the Bearded Iris 'Stepping Out'. I cannot recall growing bearded irises before although I might have, in the distant past, and I decided to plant it into a terracotta pot, for now.  Iris reticulata is something I am familiar with and have often grown for spring displays but this year I also chose three types of Iris hollandica (Dutch Irises) and I don't recall planting them before either.  I chose 'Purple Sensation', 'Blue Magic', and 'Carmen'.  I tell you, they have put on a fabulous display.  

Dutch Iris 'Blue Magic' with 'Carmen' in the background

Out of the three already mentioned, Blue Magic was the first to start opening, followed by Purple Sensation.  The RHS describes Blue Magic as a bulbous perennial which achieves a height of 65 centimetres, with narrow upright leaves flowering from mid-spring to mid-summer. It has violet-blue flowers with the falls having a central yellow splash.  It is not fussy about growing conditions or soil but needs to be moist and well-drained (which pretty much applies to nearly all plants), and will grow in full sun or partial shade in sheltered or exposed conditions.  Mine are in full sun, east facing, terracotta pots with some shelter from the strong northerly winds we get here high on the Pennines of West Yorkshire. It's a bulbous perennial and while it has a hardiness of H6 (-15 to -10C), I shall dry the bulbs off and store indoors over winter mainly because I will want the pots for spring bulbs.  Blue Magic has the RHS Award of Garden Merit. 

Dutch Iris hollandica: 'Purple Sensation' 

Dutch Iris 'Purple Sensation' has the similar growing needs (the RHS says it needs well-draining soil and full sun) to Blue Magic  and is said to achieve a height of 60 centimetres.  It is described as achieving a height of 60cm with upright, lance-shaped bright green leaves and sumptuously dark purple flowers with yellow markings on the purple falls. 

Dutch Iris hollandica 'Carmen'

The RHS website says that 'Carmen', the last of the three to fully open, has the same growing information as 'Purple Sensation'. It describes the flowers as large with lavender blushing standards above delicate, purple-veined whie falls with a golden yellow centre spot.    

Plants with the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit