Iris

With spring just around the corner, gardening thoughts turn to the early bloomers with great anticipation. The lovely Iris comes to us with early, mid, and late blooming varieties; if all three are planted the garden will embrace a splendid show for a month or more. Perfect as a cut flower, they will provide a dazzling arrangement which lasts a week or more.

The name Iris comes from the Greek word for rainbow. The unusual shape of the flower makes it easily recognizable; it has three sets of three petal-like parts. The lower set, called the 'falls', flare out and hang down. The three upper segments, known as the 'standard', curve up forming a dome. The three curved 'style branches' cover the stamens in the center.

The Iris is sometimes called the Fleur-de-lis, French for 'Flower of the Lily'. It became the emblem for the Kings of France in the 1100's and King Charles V of France adopted three golden Fleurs-de-lis on a field of blue as his coat of arms in the 1300's. The Iris appeared on the scepter of the Egyptian ruler in 1500 BC and it is also carved on the brow of the Sphinx. The design is the symbol for North on the compass. All of these facts illustrate the importance of this historical flower.

The science of the medicinal value of the Iris, although known about, has been lost over the centuries. However the American Iris Society has actively promoted advancements in rediscovery of the ancient purposes of the flower. The dried rhizome of certain bearded Iris, called the 'orrisroot', is still used in medicines, powders, and perfumes.

Colors cover the spectrum and appear in countless variations. Many of the blooms have different colors in each of the three sections. From rich coffee and white, shades of deep blue and vibrant yellow, to purest white with a tinge of apricot…the combinations are breathtaking, the fragrance sweet and sultry.