Many of us grow Tall Bearded irises (TB) in our gardens. Many of us also grow their smaller relatives, Border Bearded (BB), Intermediate Bearded (IB), and Standard Dwarf Bearded (SDB) Irises. Some may be familiar with Miniature Dwarf Bearded (MDB) and Miniature Tall Bearded (MTB) iris. All of these groups have been developed in recent times as hybrids of various Bearded Iris Species.

Three commonly known ‘species’ are now considered to be natural hybrids. These are I.pallida with it’s grey/blue foliage and pastel blue blooms, growing tall and elegant. I. germanica (75cm) with purple, and bitone purple blooms, and perhaps a variant of I. germanica – I. florentina with white blooms on shorter stalks (40cm). All three were used in the production of orris powder for the perfume industry.

I.pallida variegata (above) is a form with lovely vareigated foliage, well worth growing in the
garden.

Others worthy of growing include:

I.albicans - white or pale blue, 40cm, sweetly scented.

I.aphyla – purple, 15-45cm, well branched, lose leaves in winter.

I.attica – a tiny brownish purple, 5cm. One for the rockery.

I.lutescens – yellow, purple or white, 8-25cm, sweetly scented.

I.mesopotamica – blue, a little frost tender.

I.plicata (possibly the same as the named I.swertii) white, edged blue

I.pumila – wide colour range, 8-13cm, short lived but easy from seed

I.reichenbachii – brownish purple or yellow 18cm.

I.schactii –yellow, 23cm.

I.suaveolens – violet, crimson or yellow, 5cm. Very dainty little iris.

I. subbiflora -deep blue, 25cm. I.variegata – yellow stds, brown edged yellow falls, 40-50cm.

I.vareigata var. reginae – white, veined violet.

All of the above have contributed to the development of modern bearded irises, and many hybridisers continue to draw on the genetic material of various species. Many are available from specialist growers in Australia or seed can be obtained from SIGNA or the BIS