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These exquisite flowers, which are affectionately referred to by the people as Iris or Cockerels, have been known since ancient times and are widespread throughout the world. Outwardly, they are a bit like orchids and can be painted in a variety of colors.

Currently, there are more than eight hundred varieties of this flower. All of them differ in the size and shades of satin petals, the grace of inflorescences, sharp leaves and buds. Irises never leave the flower Olympus, florists widely use them to create original flower gifts.

Surely our readers have received such bouquets. However, not everyone knows Irises are shrouded in many legends, some of which we will tell you today.

Legends of irises

Legend has it that for the first time iris bloomed on Earth several million years ago... The flower was so beautiful that not only birds, insects and animals came to admire its beauty, but also the wind and water, which spread the ripe iris seeds throughout the earth. And when the germinated seeds bloomed, the iris became man's favorite plant.

There is a version that the Romans called Florence that way, since a huge number of irises grew around this ancient settlement. the name of the city from Latin into Russian sounds like "blossoming". Today, the Florentine iris adorns the city's coat of arms.

Since ancient times, people have been interested in the meaning of flowers. Irises in Ancient Greece associated with a legend that has survived to this day that these flowers owe their name to Hippocrates himself. The great Aesculapius gave the name to the plant in honor of the goddess Iris. She carried the will of the gods to people, descending from Olympus to earth along the rainbow. "Iris" is translated from the ancient Greek language as "rainbow".

Interestingly, in Japanese the words "warrior spirit" and "iris" are denoted by the same hieroglyph. On Boys' Day, which is celebrated annually on May 5, the people of Japan perform a ritual admiration of these amazing flowers in the iris gardens (hanami), where they are grown in water. On this day, iris can be seen on all household items. The meaning of the flower here is associated with courage and boldness.

On the boys' holiday, a "magic" talisman is prepared from these flowers, which instills courage in the soul of a young man. According to the Japanese, iris leaves, similar in shape to swords, should awaken strength and courage in the boy. In the old days, on the day of hanami, the Japanese made a drink from the flowers of orange and iris, which they called the May pearls. Everyone who used it got rid of many serious diseases.

Nevertheless, this flower represents a completely peaceful family of irises, which belongs to the asparagus of the monocotyledonous class, and behind the feigned restraint and even severity, there is a serenity that is so attractive to many. This explains another meaning of colors. Irises in Christianity are associated with the suffering of Christ, which became the reason for their cultivation in cathedrals and monasteries.

And one more beautiful legend about iris. Once upon a time, after a heavy downpour, the sky was painted with a rainbow. But, to the surprise of people, it did not disappear, as it always did, but crumbled into tiny particles that fell to the ground. Very soon, in the places where the fragments of the rainbow fell, luxurious flowers, previously unseen on Earth, grew. These were irises, which today give us their unearthly beauty, grace and delicate aroma.

Types of irises

The iris genus consists of 800 species known today. In floriculture, bearded specimens are especially popular, which are appreciated by gardeners for the variety of colors and original shape. They look great in independent bouquets, as well as in compositions with other plants.

In the scientific world, these flowers have a complex classification, which consists of several levels, but for an ordinary amateur grower, the decisive argument when choosing a variety is the shape of the flower and the color scheme. Miniature and dining rooms, aryl-like and non-aryl-like, small-flowered and dwarf, tall and undersized - it's really difficult to understand all this variety of species. Therefore, in this article we will focus on bearded irises, which are especially popular with flower growers.

Iris: description, meaning of the flower

This plant belongs to the rhizome group. Annual flower stalks have six petals. Three of them are located outside and three more inside. The first ones are turned down and are arranged horizontally, the second ones are vertically arranged and rolled into a tube. Most varieties resemble orchids. The color of the outer and inner flowers can be different. This gives the plant a charm.

The leaves resemble the foliage of gladioli: xiphoid, flat, collected at the base of the stem. Their color can range from lemon yellow to blue-green. Irises can have single or grouped flower stalks. The height of the plants ranges from 20 cm to 120 cm, on which up to seven buds bloom.

Where do irises grow?

Under natural conditions, iris grows in clearings and forest edges, in well-lit areas. In the garden, it is better to plant it on the sunny side, away from trees: the iris does not tolerate close contact with the roots of powerful plants.

Iris flowers

Irises do not bloom for long. The size of the flower is not the same - from 8 to 15 cm in diameter. The original flower shape is almost as beautiful as exquisite orchids.

In reality, iris has no petals. What many consider to be petals is the perianth divided into six lobes. Concave and curved lobes alternately can be differently colored: from white to velvet black, bordered or with contrasting central lobes, monochromatic. The edges of the perianth range from straight to semi-double.

The meaning of iris is interesting. This amazing language originated in the East. Women brought up in the strictest Muslim traditions often could not speak when they wanted to. For this reason, they began to use flowers to convey their mood.

For example, in Ancient Egypt, the flower became a symbol of eloquence, in Babylon - the strength and power of royal power. Today in our country iris is associated with wisdom and trust, hope and faith, as well as fearlessness. The flower located at the top of the bouquet means work, at the bottom - the kingdom.

Irises: the meaning of a flower (feng shui)

The meaning of irises in Feng Shui teaching is quite diverse. The main one is a life that does not know old age, eternal youth. In addition, they are a symbol of hope and faith. That is why these flowers perfectly harmonize the space in the living room where the family gathers.

Iris is the favorite flower of the French monarchs. Louis XIV was the first of the rulers of Europe to introduce the art of feng shui to the palaces and parks of the country. Iris blue is the color of focus. He helps in achieving lofty goals and aspirations. If you dream of doing great things, then you should have a blue iris. It also helps you be more collected and focused.

To whom and when to give irises?

Since today many are interested in floristry, the question often arises : "What do they give irises for?" The meaning of colors allows you to use these in men's and children's bouquets, as well as as a complement and a bright accent in women's compositions. Bouquet of irises will be a wonderful gift for a friend.

In accordance with the flower horoscope, iris patronizes those born in February. These flowers will be appropriate as a gift for loved ones and friends. They will convey warmth, a kind attitude towards people close and dear to you. The color of the iris also matters. For example, it means purity. Orange is fun and joy, it can cheer you up. Pink is perceived as a symbol of tenderness and love.

In some cases, iris symbolizes innocence. There are many positive comparisons and associations associated with this flower, so it is suitable for a gift for any occasion - for a birthday, wedding anniversary, or just as a sign of attention on a nice clear day.

What colors are irises combined with?

The following compositions are very popular today:

field - a bouquet with iris, chamomile;
springtime - iris with lisianthus, alstroemeria and birch twigs;
VIP-bouquet - iris, longa lily, hydrangea, lisianthus and delphinium;
classic - irises, santini and alstroemeria.

In this article, we tried to briefly describe the meaning of colors for you. Irises are truly unique plants that can be picked up for any occasion.

Iris (Iris) is a genus of herbaceous perennial rhizomatous plants belonging to the iris family. There are many varieties (over 700) that include thousands of varieties of irises. According to the European classification, bulbous irises are also included in this genus, and Russian botanists have singled them out into independent genera (Juno, Xyphium, Iridodictum), therefore, they will not be discussed in the article.

The leaves of irises are flat, wide, xiphoid, in some species they are narrow, mostly basal and collected in a fan-shaped bunch. Their surface is glossy or matte in various shades of green. Flowers are single or collected in inflorescences, have 6 perianth lobes - 3 outer ones are turned downwards, and 3 inner ones are curved and directed upwards. The lower petals differ from the upper ones in color. By the timing of flowering, there are early, middle and late - from the end of May to August.

Classification

Taking into account the shape and color of the flower, the height of the plant and the width of its leaves, irises are classified into different sections, namely: bearded, beardless or limniris and section xiridion.

Bearded

Bearded - have growths (fluffy hairs) on pubescent petals bent downwards, associated with a beard (hence the name). They are mainly obtained from crossing various wild species. This is the largest group.

Iris flowers can be of all colors

According to the height of the peduncles, they are divided into:

Low-growing or dwarfs - plants no higher than 40-50cm:
1. Miniature dwarfs - no higher than 20cm, ideal for rock gardens;
2. Standard dwarfs - from 20 to 50 cm tall, grow well. In two years, a plant can have 10 or more peduncles;

Medium-sized - their height ranges from 50 to 70 cm:
1. interlude of irises - with flowers from 7 to 10-12 cm in diameter;
2. border irises have flowers 7-12 cm in diameter;
3. miniature tall irises - the size of flowers in these varieties is 5-8 cm in diameter.
Tall - plants taller than 70 cm. A very popular group, which includes more than a hundred varieties, has another name for German iris.

Flowers can be white, blue, pink, yellow, purple and of blue color, one-color, two-color or multi-color, with a border or with an iridescent color.

Beardless

Beardless irises have thin, short-branched rhizomes. There are no barbs on the petals of the perianth, and the leaves are narrow-xiphoid and flat. Flowers of all species of the Limniris section are odorless. They are also classified into groups based on their place of origin or some special characteristic.

Siberian iris, up to 1 meter high and above, frost-resistant and unpretentious. The flowers are mostly shades of blue and purple. The leaves are narrow, green. Little susceptible to disease.
Japanese iris (other names xiphoid iris, Kempfer's iris) differs large flowers 15 to 25cm in diameter. The flower can be either simple in shape or double (multi-petal), in various shades of purple color. Unfortunately, it hibernates poorly in our latitudes, does not tolerate severe frosts.
Iris marsh (other names are yellow iris, calamus iris) - up to 120 cm high. Golden yellow flowers with brown strokes. Heat-loving species. Grows rapidly, blooms in June-July. Grows exclusively in humid places

Iris marsh

Xiridion

Xiridion - the section includes 20 types of irises and more than 600 varieties, a rare and little-known group in our country. By the name of the most common species, it is also called the iris spuria. Long-lasting plants with original and unusual flowers of various colors. It is almost impossible to confuse the flowers of these irises with other species, they have the narrowest petals. It tolerates drought and frost well. Salient feature spuria irises - they do not like transplants and bloom for a long time in one place. By height, they are divided into short, medium and tall.

Iris spuria

Photo gallery of views

Landing

It can be planted from spring to autumn. Optimal time for dividing and transplanting - a couple of weeks after flowering. Land for planting iris needs light and well-drained. The soil is loamy with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. It is advisable to replant irises every 3-5 years. Siberian irises need to be replanted every 10 years so that they do not degenerate. Bearded irises are best planted in lighted areas with good drainage. Marsh irises grow best on moist soils.

Before planting, very long roots must be shortened and decaying areas of the rhizome must be removed. For disinfection, you can stand in a solution of potassium permanganate for 20-25 minutes, then dry it.

Bearded irises are planted in a shallow hole on a pile of sand, the roots are straightened and covered with an earthen mixture, without deepening the rhizome. When planting, beardless irises need to be slightly deepened and mulched with needles. Planting is carried out at a distance of 30-40 cm between dwarf irises to 80 cm between tall irises.

Planting irises

Care

Care when growing iris mainly comes down to timely weeding and loosening, watering and feeding. Weeding is best done by hand, as the plant's root system is too close to the surface of the soil and can be damaged by a hoe.

Watering. Irises are drought-resistant plants and do without water for a long time. But to increase the flowering period, regular watering is necessary, especially during the period of budding and flowering. After flowering, watering should be reduced.

Top dressing. Irises need to be fed periodically. Nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizer is fed during the growing season and after flowering. Complex - during the budding period. Fertilization is not recommended during flowering. You can use compost and humus, but not manure.

Before the onset of cold weather, the rhizomes of irises, emerging on the soil surface, must be sprinkled with earth or peat.

Reproduction

Reproduction of irises is carried out by dividing the bush. It is best to divide in the spring before active growth or after flowering. It must first be watered, dug on all sides with a pitchfork and removed. Rinse the rhizomes and divide into 1-2 year old links with a fan of leaves, called a "spatula". The rhizome should be cut with a sharp, disinfected knife on a hard surface. Shorten the roots, cut the leaves by 2/3. The "spatula" is planted in an inclined position, without deepening, so that the rhizome with the bud is on the surface.

You can carry out the division without disturbing the entire bush, but having dug on one side, cut off part of the rhizome. The separated part of the rhizome is also divided into "spatulas". And the part remaining in the ground is disinfected with ash and sprinkled with earth. In this way, you can not only propagate the plant, but also rejuvenate.

During the reproduction of irises, annual links are separated

Diseases and pests

Let's talk about the diseases and pests of iris. One of the most dangerous diseases is bacteriosis or rhizome rot. The leaves turn brown and dry, they are easily pulled out of the fan and fall off. Rot covers the rhizome, it collapses and turns into a white mass, covered with a shell. The iris plant is dying. Irises affected by bacteriosis are discarded. The damaged areas of the rhizome should be cut out to healthy tissue, sprinkled with charcoal ..

Gray rot - fungal disease... With high humidity, the leaves turn brown and rot, a gray bloom appears. Rot also spreads to the rhizome. When symptoms appear, fungicides should be used.

Heterosporia. It can be recognized by brown spots with a yellow border on the leaves. Diseased leaves should be cut and burned. The plant must be treated with a solution of copper sulfate or another fungicidal preparation.

Iris afflicted with heterosporia

The most annoying pests are winter scoops. In winter, gray caterpillars burrow into the soil, and in spring they crawl out, pupate and turn into butterflies, which lay eggs on irises. After 1-2 weeks, caterpillars reappear from the eggs and eat up the peduncles and leaves. To prevent these invasions, it is necessary to spray the plant with Aktelik at the beginning of May, according to the instructions, and when the caterpillars appear with Kinmix.

V last years plants are very often affected by the iris fly. It hibernates in the ground, comes out in spring and lays eggs in unblown buds. The eggs hatch into larvae and eat the bud. Spraying can be carried out with preparations recommended for the fight against the Colorado potato beetle.

Bears gnawing at rhizomes are also dangerous for irises. The bronze beetle loves to feast on unblown buds. Gladiolus Thrips does a lot of damage in hot weather.

Composition with irises

Use in landscape design

In our country there are a lot of lovers and connoisseurs of irises, probably on every second site they can be seen. Dwarf varieties are suitable for slides; swamp iris is often planted along the banks of artificial reservoirs. Irises of different heights and colors, planted side by side, look very impressive. Irises are appropriate in any composition, they can play both the main role and the secondary one.

Iris- an ornamental plant, a representative of the Kasatikov family. Scientists consider Asia to be the birthplace of this flower. Iris is also found in Europe and in North America.

Irises are considered one of the most beautiful and common flowers. They can be found in flower beds, in city parks, in summer cottages. The plant is an erect stem with green flat leaves and large flowers different shades(see photo). Iris flowers will not only decorate any flower bed, but also help fight some diseases. Also, this plant is used in cooking to create amazingly delicious dessert dishes.

The flower got its name due to the variegated flowers, because iris is translated as "rainbow". The plant was named Hippocrates after the rainbow goddess Iris. According to one of the legends, when Prometheus gave people fire, a rainbow arose: nature was so happy about this event. The rainbow could be observed all day, and when in the morning it disappeared, people noticed that amazing flowers bloomed all over the earth, which reminded their appearance rainbow. There is also an ancient belief that millions of years ago, when the iris first bloomed, the plant turned out to be so amazing that not only animals and birds came to see this beauty, but also natural elements. Having admired the flower, the wind spread its seeds all over the earth so that the iris could be admired everywhere. The Romans also named Florence among the irises, because in translation its name means "blooming" (in those days, a lot of irises grew in this Etruscan settlement).

Our ancestors considered iris a powerful aphrodisiac: the powder from its rhizome allegedly caused sexual desire in both men and women. The scent of iris was found by people to be very exciting and stimulating for a pastime in love.

Growing irises

You can grow irises on summer cottage... This plant does not require much maintenance. The flower prefers a sunny area and fertile soil.

Irises have some growing characteristics. One of them is that the rhizomes of the plant grow horizontally and in the process of growth may be on the surface. Due to this it is recommended to sprinkle the roots with peat or earth for the winter so that they do not freeze... Wherein do not plant the plant too deep... Of course, this will not kill the iris, but it will not bloom either.

Flower care consists of regular watering and fertilization (mineral fertilizers are suitable for the latter).

Collection and storage

The collection of irises is carried out in the second year of plant life... The rhizome is dug up in August. To begin with, it is thoroughly washed and dried in the sun or in dryers. The collected raw materials should be stored in a cool room. The root contains 0.2-0.7% iris essential oil. To obtain the oil, the flowers of the plant are also harvested, which are then processed by the extraction method.

Healing properties

The medicinal properties of irises are due to the chemical composition of the plants. Their rhizomes contain valuable essential oil, which is used in perfumery, cosmetology, medicine. And also in the composition were found ascorbic acid, sugar, essential oil, flavonoids, carotenoids, fatty oils, tannins and glycosides. Iris leaves contain a high dose of vitamin C, which protects cells from premature aging by acting as an antioxidant and also improves protective forces organism.

In cosmetology, iris extract is used to care for the skin of the face and head. The plant has powerful regenerating properties, which allows it to be used as an active ingredient in cosmetics for the care of sensitive skin... The essential oil of iris has a delicate, slightly sweet aroma and a yellowish brown color. In aromatherapy, essential oil is used externally to relax, relieve tension, relieve pain. Iris oil is widely used in the production of perfumes and cologne. The crushed rhizome can be used instead of cosmetic powder. It is also added to dental powders.

Iris is used for cooking eye drops. Drops have a pronounced bactericidal effect, kill bacteria(even Pseudomonas aeruginosa). They can be used for conjunctivitis, corneal lesions. The tool is widely used to treat keratitis, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, iridocyclitis in domestic animals - dogs and cats.

Iris seeds have found their way into flavoring some alcoholic beverages. They are also used instead of coffee beans.

In India, this plant is known as an astringent.

Iris can be given to small children to chew when they are teething.

Cooking applications

In cooking, iris has found application in the preparation of certain dishes. The flower is a great spice to add to your recipe. confectionery... The crushed root is used as a natural flavoring agent.

In Armenia, one can often find jam made from iris petals. In order to get this tasty and original dish, you need to collect a sufficient number of white iris petals. Only fresh, unprocessed irises, which are cut early in the morning, are suitable for jam. Flowers are carefully sorted out and washed in cold water to wash off all dust. Then the petals are placed in an enamel bowl and sprinkled with sugar. When they give juice, the petals are poured with water and boiled until tender. Ready jam is poured into jars. For one serving, 100 grams of flowers will be enough.

Iris root is also called violet root. It is used for making baked goods, alcoholic beverages. It is well known for African cuisine. In Morocco, iris is combined with other popular scents such as rose. The root has a bittersweet taste. It is often used in conjunction with other spices. In Moroccan cuisine, iris is placed in the National dish"Tagine". It is also part of a spicy concoction called ras el-khanut. This seasoning is widely known in North Africa.

Iris benefits and treatments

The benefits of the plant are known folk medicine... For medicinal purposes, varieties such as the Florentine and German iris are used. Most of the active substances are concentrated in the rhizomes of the plant, which is why they are used most often.

Iris infusions are used for toothache. Due to the high content of vitamin C, the plant is effective against scurvy.

Homeopaths are preparing on the basis of iris remedies intended for the treatment of the pancreas.

Iris rhizome possesses expectorant properties... In addition, its infusion perfectly cleanses the blood. Prepare it from 15 grams of crushed rhizomes and a glass of boiling water. Take the infusion inside 5-6 times a day for a tablespoon.

Iris possesses diuretic effect, which allows you to use it for diseases of the bladder.

For the treatment of sore throat, stomatitis, an iris broth is prepared, which is used to rinse the mouth or sore throat. The broth is prepared from a teaspoon of rhizomes and a glass of water. Non-healing wounds and ulcers are washed with the same broth.

For coughs, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, colds, prepare a decoction of iris, which is taken in 0.5 cups. This infusion is also indicated for bladder cancer.

At home you can cook alcohol tincture ... To do this, take 1 part of the rhizome and fill it with 10 parts of alcohol. The tincture is taken 10-20 drops three times a day. for pain and stomach cramps... Before use, the tincture is diluted in a glass of boiled water. The remedy is effective for chronic lung diseases. Tincture of iris stops the growth of tubercle bacilli.

Harm of iris and contraindications

The plant can harm the body with individual intolerance.

A plant such as iris (Iris) is also called a cockerel or an iris. This perennial plant belongs to the rhizome genus, to the iris or iris family (Iridaceae). You can meet such flowers in almost every corner of the planet. This genus unites about 700 different species. The name of such a flower is translated as "rainbow". This plant was named by Hippocrates himself in honor of the rainbow goddess Iris. The legend says that at the moment when Prometheus gave people fire, a rainbow shone - it was the jubilation of nature. This rainbow shone throughout the day and night, and after the sunlight illuminated the earth, people were amazed at the sight of unusually beautiful flowers called irises. They looked so much like a rainbow. Florence (which means "blooming") received such a name from the Romans for the fact that a lot of irises grew in the fields located near the city. This amazing plant has been grown for about 2 thousand years. It is a wonderful decoration for any garden, and also valuable raw materials are extracted from irises, from which essences for the perfumery industry are made.

Irises have rhizomes on which roots grow, which have a cord-like or thread-like shape. There are one or several annual peduncles. Flat thin two-row leaf plates have a xiphoid shape, linear ones are rarely found. There is a thin layer of wax on their surface. They are collected at the base of the peduncle in a fan-shaped bundle, while the stem leaves are practically absent. As a rule, the flowers are single, but not very large inflorescences are found on such plants. They are, as a rule, fragrant and large in size, they are distinguished by a very unusual shape as well as whimsical coloring. So, the color can be of different color shades, as well as their very bizarre combinations. The flower has 6 petals, which are the perianth lobes. The outer lobes in the amount of 3 pieces are slightly turned downwards and have a color different from the upper lobes. The fused upper lobes resemble a tube in shape. Long bloom from May to July. 2 or 3 flowers bloom at the same time, and they do not fade within 1–5 days. The fruit is a three-nested capsule.

Main types and varieties with photos

Bearded irises

By the shape of the flower, root irises are divided into beardless and bearded. Bearded got this name for the presence of hairy hairs on the surface of the petals. They have their own classification (medium-sized, standard medium-sized, medium-sized binder, tall, border, small-flowered medium-sized, miniature dwarf, standard dwarf, arylbreds, table, arylbreds and aryls, aryl-like arylbreds and aryls, non-aryl-like aryls). However, only scientists use such a classification, and ordinary gardeners know these plants as bearded irises of various sizes.

Iris german

The tall bearded iris is also called Germanic. This plant has several hundred different varieties and is the most popular of all bearded irises. The most popular varieties are: Baltic Sea - a strong corrugated flower with an intense blue color and blue barbs; Bewilderbest - corrugated flowers are painted in a burgundy-reddish-cream color, and on the surface there are streaks and stripes of whitish and yellow colors; Acoma - sky blue with ivory and lavender border. It is very popular in America.

Non-bearded irises

The same irises include: Japanese, spuria, Californian, Siberian, Louisiana, marsh, as well as other irises (interspecific and specific). The most popular in mid-latitudes are:

Siberian iris

It can be painted in various shades from deep purple to blue. However, at the moment there are about 1,000 different varieties, the color of which can be very different. For example, white Snow Queen; Betts & Suga has a yellow color and a whitish border; the Imperial Opal bush reaches a height of 80 centimeters, and its lavender-pink flowers have a diameter of about 10 centimeters. The flowers of such a plant are very beautiful, but they have no smell.

Japanese iris (Kempflera, xiphoid)

Orchid-shaped flowers are very large (up to 25 centimeters in diameter), and they are devoid of aroma. Thanks to breeders in Japan, terry (also called hana-shobu) and multi-petal Japanese iris were born. But these species are not resistant to frost. For middle latitudes it is recommended to choose: "Nessa-No-Mai" - the diameter of whitish-purple flowers can reach 23 centimeters; "Solveig" - flowers are painted in a pale lilac color; "Vasily Alferov" - non-double flowers have an ink color.

Iris spuria

A very graceful plant similar to the bulbous iris xyphyum, but it stands out for its large size. Not afraid of drought and frost. The most spectacular varieties: Lemon Touch - lacy lemon-yellow flowers have a signal of dark golden color, the height of the bush is up to 100 centimeters; Transfiguration - a bush can also reach 100 centimeters in height, the color of the flowers varies from blue-violet to dark purple, the signal is bronze; Stella Irene - the bush reaches 90 centimeters in height, the black-purple flowers have a small golden signal.

Marsh iris (pseudoair)

This species, unlike others, prefers to grow only in moist soil. Flowers can be painted in various shades of yellow, and it is most often used to decorate artificial reservoirs. The most popular varieties are: "Golden Queen" - yellow flowers; "Flore Pleno" - has double flowers; "Umkirch" pink color.

Depending on the color of the flowers, the varieties are divided into:

monochromatic - all lobes have the same color;
two-tone - the lobes located at the bottom and at the top are painted in different shades of the same color;
two-color - the color of the lower and upper lobes is different;
variegata - lobes are yellow from above, and reddish-brown from below;
amena - the upper lobes are white;
bordered or plikata - there is a border of a contrasting color either on all lobes, or only on the lower ones;
iridescent - the transition from one color shade to another is very smooth.

Most inexperienced gardeners find it difficult to grow irises. However, in reality, this is far from the case. Simply, in order for these plants to grow and develop normally, do not forget a few simple rules care for them:

The rhizomes of such flowers grow in a horizontal direction, and at the same time its part is exposed, as it comes to the surface. Before winter, these plants are recommended to be covered with peat or soil in order to protect them from freezing. In springtime, this layer must be carefully removed.
The peculiarity of such plants is that they are able to move. So, during the season, they can shift to the side by several centimeters. Therefore, it is recommended to plant them in a fan of sheet plates along the row. In this case, the rows will be smoother.
The bearded iris is planted using sand. Sand is poured into the prepared hole at the bottom with a slide, and the roots are already straightened along it. It should be borne in mind that if you deeply deepen the plant, then it may die or it will not bloom.
You can not use organic fertilizers for feeding. Liquid mineral fertilizer works best.

When to plant irises? Seat selection

Most gardeners believe that as soon as the irises have finished blooming, they should be dug up, divided and planted in a permanent place. Because otherwise, they may not have time to be taken before the onset of the winter period. However, if in your area there is a long and warm enough autumn, then you may not be in a hurry to transplant irises. Such flowers can actually be transplanted from spring to autumn, but only after they have finished their flowering period. Remember that irises should be replanted at least once every 3 or 4 years. However, Siberian irises can grow in one place for about 10 years. If you do not transplant, then the overgrown bushes stop blooming.

For bearded irises, you should choose a sunny place away from drafts, which should be located on a hill or on a slope, since it is very important that the place is well drained, and there is also an outflow melt water... It is recommended to disembark from morning until lunchtime. For the Siberian and marsh species, you need to choose places with wet soil. Absolutely all irises need nutrient-rich soil. To correct poor soil, before planting irises in spring, you need to add compost or garden fatty soil, as well as phosphorus-potassium fertilizer. It is recommended to add chalk, dolomite flour or wood ash to acidic soil. It is recommended to add sand and peat to loam, and clay soil to sandy soil. It is recommended to disinfect the soil before planting irises. To do this, it must be watered with a fungicide, and also treated with herbicides from weeds. You cannot bring manure into the ground.

The purchased planting material, as well as the one that was stored throughout the winter period, must be treated with a growth stimulating agent (Zircon or Ecoel). If the roots are long, then they must be trimmed, places where there are traces of decay must be carefully cut out. The root should be dipped in a potassium manganese solution for a third of an hour for disinfection. Make a not very deep hole and pour sand into it with a mound. The rhizome of the bearded iris must be laid so that it is horizontal. Spread the roots and sprinkle the hole so that only the upper part of the rhizome remains above the soil surface. Then the iris should be watered abundantly. In the event that the entire rhizome is underground, then this, as a rule, leads to the appearance of rot. Beardless species, on the other hand, need to be buried a few centimeters into the ground. A layer of mulch (peat or fallen needles) should be poured on top, which will help retain moisture. The wells must be spaced from each other at a distance of at least 50 centimeters.

Autumn planting is not much different from spring planting. It is recommended to carry it out at the end summer season when the flowering period ends. As a rule, it is advised to transplant from August to the last September days, but it should be borne in mind that an earlier transplant will allow the plants to take root and grow stronger. Dig the bush with a pitchfork, then divide it into annual links with a blade. The cord-shaped roots must be carefully shortened, remove those places where there is damage or traces of decay. Then the delenki must be placed in a dark pink solution of potassium manganese for 2 hours for disinfection. After that, they need to be placed in a sunny place for 4–5 hours. Delenki should be planted in the same way as in spring. A distance of about 50 centimeters should be left between the holes of high grades, between medium-sized ones - 20 centimeters, between undersized ones - 15 centimeters.

Iris care

It is a warm and light-loving plant. It is especially important to water irises regularly and relatively abundantly during the period of bud formation. The rest of the time, watering should be done only when the surface of the soil near the rhizome is very dry.

If in the spring, before planting iris, you applied fertilizer to the soil, then during the whole season, as a rule, the plant will not need additional fertilizing. In the event that you still decide to apply fertilizers to the soil, then for this you should use potassium-phosphorus fertilizer in liquid form. It should be applied directly under the root during the period of intensive growth. It is forbidden to feed irises during the flowering period.

All season it will be necessary to remove weeds in a timely manner. You will have to get rid of the weeds manually. The fact is that the root system is located horizontally and very close to the soil surface. In this regard, when weeding with a hoe, you can accidentally damage it. Although rare, loosening of the soil should be done. This procedure must be carried out with extreme caution, trying not to damage the roots. Experienced gardeners it is advised to remove wilted flowers, since they can cause pests to settle on the plant.

The most spectacular and variegated varieties are most susceptible to various pests and diseases. In order to protect irises from diseases, it is imperative to adhere to all the rules of agricultural technology of the species. Also, be sure to observe how the plants are doing throughout the season. As soon as you notice that something is wrong with the irises, you should take appropriate action. When a bush is infected with fusarium or other rot, you need to act very quickly. The infected plant must be dug up and destroyed. For preventive purposes, other bushes must be watered under the root and along the roots with a solution of foundation, which should be two percent. It is also recommended to treat the rhizomes with this tool before planting them in the soil. In this case, the risk of rot will be much lower. A solution of Bordeaux mixture (1%), which should be sprayed on foliage, can protect plants from a variety of spots.

Often, scoops settle on plants. They eat the bases of the peduncles. After that, the peduncles turn yellow and dry out. Preventive measures should be taken at the very beginning of the growing season. To do this, you need to treat the plants 2 times with a solution of karbofos (10%), while an interval of 7 days should be made between treatments. Gladiolus thrips can also settle. They lead to a violation of photosynthesis in the foliage, because of which it becomes brown and dies off. If the plant is infested with thrips, then its buds will be ugly and discolored. Thrips do best in dry summer months. Such insects can be fought in the same way as with scoops with the help of karbofos; an infusion made from 400 g of makhorka, which should be kept for one and a half weeks, is also highly effective. Also, 40 g is added to it, chopped with a grater, laundry soap... Slugs can harm such plants. To get rid of them, it is necessary to put fresh burdock leaves or moistened rags in the aisles. When the slugs hide under them, you just have to collect them together with rags and destroy. If there are a lot of slugs, then in sunny weather, in the early morning or in the evening, metaldehyde, released in granules, should be distributed over the area, simply by scattering it. Moreover, 1 square meter should leave from 30 to 40 g of the substance.

In the event that planting is not expected in a given year, it is recommended to remove the peduncles after the plant has faded. If the yellowing of the leaf plates begins, it is recommended to cut them off, making the tip a semicircular shape. So, irises will also remain a good decoration of the garden and will have time to collect the necessary nutrients as well as strength. During the warm autumn period, secondary flowering often occurs. After the leaf plates become withered, they must be cut, leaving only 10-15 centimeters. The cuttings must be destroyed (burned), since pathogens, as well as eggs of harmful insects, can be on their surface.

Before the winter cold, bare rhizomes should be covered with soil, as well as a thick (8–10 centimeters) layer of mulch (peat or sand). In the case when a strong drop in temperature is expected in autumn or winter, you need to cover the irises with spruce branches or dried leaves. In the case when a lot of snow falls in winter, you do not need to cover the plants.

Dug out or acquired rhizomes of bearded irises in autumn can be saved until spring by placing them in a dry and cool place. Dry the rhizomes thoroughly and place them in a cardboard box, which must be tightly closed. It should be placed on a loggia or balcony. At the same time, it is recommended to wrap each rhizome with a cloth or a sheet of paper, and you can also sprinkle them in a box with dry peat or the same sawdust.

Other irises prefer a humid habitat, therefore, in order to preserve them, it is necessary to plant them in a flowerpot. Before planting, you need to remove long roots, and the rhizome itself should be lowered and held in a not very strong solution of potassium manganese for disinfection. Then it must be dried. It is not necessary to deepen the rhizome; it is only sprinkled with soil a little. In spring, the sprouted rhizome must be taken with a clod of earth and planted in open soil.

Irises are flowers with the richest palette of possible shades, indisputable dominants of flower beds and bouquets in the fertile time of the flow of spring into summer.
The main thing that a florist needs to know about irises: the flowers of the rainbow goddess Iris love warmth and light. Moisture control is especially important during the budding period (we water regularly and abundantly), the rest of the time we focus on the drying out of the soil near the roots.

How to make irises "creep" over the site beautifully?
How and why is it necessary to plant irises "on the sand"?
What is fraught with a deep landing of orcas?
How to refine iris bushes that turned yellow after flowering?

Let's figure it out together.

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Planting and caring for irises

Landing: species plants - by sowing seeds in open ground before winter or after stratification of sowing material in spring. Varietal - by dividing the rhizomes and planting them in the ground every 3-4 years after flowering.
Bloom: from May to mid-summer.
Lighting: bright sunlight in the morning.
The soil: fertile, drained, cultivated to a depth of 20 cm, in composition - light or medium, neutral or slightly alkaline.
Watering: regular, sufficient, abundant during the budding period.
Top dressing: mineral complex fertilizers in liquid form before flowering. Do not feed during flowering. Do not use organics.
Reproduction: seed, vegetative (by dividing the rhizome).
Pests: gladiolus thrips, scoops, aphids, root onion mites, onion hoverflies, stem, strawberry and rootworm nematodes, slugs, bears, wireworms, beetles.
Diseases: bacteriosis, gray rot, fusarium.

Iris flowers - description

Irises are rhizome plants. Cord-like or filiform roots grow on the rhizome. Peduncles (one or more) are annual. The leaves are flat, xiphoid, thin, two-rowed, sometimes linear, with a waxy coating. They are collected in fan-shaped bunches at the base of the peduncle, there are almost no stem leaves. Flowers in irises are single, sometimes in small inflorescences, large, often fragrant, distinguished by an intricate graceful shape and are painted in a variety of colors and their combinations. The flower has six petals (in fact, these are the perianth lobes). The three outer lobes are slightly turned downwards, and they usually differ in color from the upper lobes, which, having grown together at the bottom, form a tube. Irises bloom from May to July, two or three flowers bloom simultaneously from one to five days. Iris fruit is a three-celled capsule.

Growing iris - features

Many hobbyists refuse to breed irises, believing that this is a very difficult process. In fact, growing irises is by no means tedious and time-consuming as it seems. You just need to know some of the subtleties that distinguish the care of these beautiful flowers.

At first, the peculiarity of irises is that their rhizomes grow horizontally and often become bare, coming to the surface. Therefore, irises in winter must be sprinkled with earth and peat so that they do not freeze. In the spring, this cover is carefully removed.

Secondly, irises love to move, and in one year they can shift their position to the side by a few centimeters. To make the rows look smoother, you need to plant irises with a fan of leaves along, not across the row.

Thirdly, bearded iris should be planted on the sand: sand is poured into the bottom of the hole and the iris root is spread over it. If planted deeply, the iris will either disappear or will not bloom.

Fourth, don't feed irises organic fertilizers, they don't like them. Best view top dressing - mineral fertilizers in liquid form.

When and where to plant irises

There is a general consensus that irises should be divided and replanted immediately after flowering so that they have time to start before winter. But if autumn is warm and long in your area, you can take your time with the transplant. Actually, irises can be planted in spring, autumn and summer after flowering. The main thing is not to forget to transplant irises every 3-4 years, and Siberian irises - at least once every ten years, otherwise they degenerate, grow and stop blooming.

In the photo: Growing irises in a flower bed

It is necessary to plant bearded irises on slopes or hills that are well lit in the first half of the day, protected from drafts, so that there is an outflow of melt water and good drainage. Marsh and Siberian irises, on the contrary, love moist soil. But both irises like the soil rich, and if the soil on your site does not meet this requirement, apply in the spring before planting in the soil with greasy garden land or compost, fertilize it with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. If the soil is acidic, add dolomite flour, chalk or wood ash. If there is loam on the site, add peat and sand, if, on the contrary, the site is sandy, add clay soil. To disinfect the area before planting, spill the area with a fungicide and treat with herbicides against possible weeds.

Do not use manure to fertilize the site.

Planting irises in spring

Planting and caring for irises requires some knowledge, but not as much effort as it seems to beginner growers. Planting material, if it was stored over the winter or was bought in a store, it is better to treat it with growth stimulants such as EcoGel or Zircon before planting. Long roots must be carefully trimmed, rotten places must be removed, and the root must be kept for disinfection in a solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes.

The irises are planted as follows: sand is poured into a shallow hole, the rhizome of the bearded iris is placed horizontally on top, the roots are straightened, covered with soil so that the upper part of the rhizome remains above the level, and watered well. If you bury the entire rhizome, you can provoke its decay. Beardless irises on the contrary, you need to deepen it a few centimeters and, in addition, mulch to preserve moisture with fallen needles or peat. The distance between the irises should be at least half a meter.

In the photo: How to properly plant irises in open ground

Planting irises in autumn

Irises are planted in spring in the same way as in autumn, or rather in late summer, namely after flowering. This usually happens from August to the end of September, although the sooner you plant, plant or transplant irises, the more you are sure that they will take root. You need to use a pitchfork to dig an iris bush, divide it into annual links with a leaf blade, carefully shorten the cord-like roots, cut out damaged or rotten places, disinfect a couple of hours in a solution of dark pink potassium permanganate, then dry for 4-5 hours in the sun. Planting irises is carried out in a way that is already known to you. The distance between low-growing irises is 15 cm, medium-sized irises - 20 cm, high-50 cm.

In the photo: Planting irises in a flower bed

Iris care

How to care for irises in the garden

Love for warmth and light - main feature irises. Concerning glaze, then it is important to strictly monitor the amount of moisture received by plants in the budding phase. During this time, watering should be regular and sufficient. In general, irises should be watered only when the soil near the roots becomes very dry.

Concerning feeding, then in most cases it will be sufficient to fertilize the soil during the spring preparation of the site. But if you think that plants need nutrition, then it is appropriate in the form of a solution of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers applied under the root during growth, but it is absolutely impossible to fertilize irises during flowering.

In the photo: Iris rhizome

You will have to fight weeds throughout the growing season. Weeding carried out by hand, because the horizontally developing root system of irises is very close to the surface, and you can accidentally disturb it by working with a hoe. Occasionally, you still need to loosen the soil, only this must be done very carefully, trying not to damage the roots. And one more thing: do not be lazy to remove wilted flowers, otherwise they can become a breeding ground for pests.

Diseases and pests of irises

The more graceful and variegated the iris variety in the flower bed, the higher the likelihood of it being affected by diseases and pests. The main condition for the health of your plants is compliance with all the rules of agricultural technology of the species. In addition, it is necessary to monitor the "well-being" of irises throughout the growing season in order to see the problem in time and be able to eliminate it.

If the plant is affected by fusarium or another type of rot, the delay of death is like: you need to immediately remove and destroy the diseased specimen and be sure to shed the remaining irises along the roots and under the root with a two percent solution of Fundazol. Use this drug as a preventive treatment of rhizomes before planting, then the risk of the likelihood of the disease will be reduced.

As a preventive measure against spotting of all types, spraying of irises with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture is used.

In the photo: Iris rots

Of the pests, the irises are most often affected by scoops, eating away at the base of the peduncles, as a result of which they turn yellow and die. To avoid this problem, at the beginning of the growing season, irises should be sprayed twice with a weekly interval with a ten percent solution of karbofos.

They attack irises and gladiolus thrips, from which photosynthesis is disturbed in the leaves of plants, they become brown and dry out. Iris buds affected by thrips become ugly and discolored. The risk of infection by thrips is especially high during dry summers. The problem can be eliminated with the help of Karbofos, as in the case of the scoop, or by spraying the plants with a strained ten-day infusion of 400 g of shag with the addition of 40 g of grated laundry soap.

Iris pests can be slugs... To get rid of them, spread wet rags or burdock leaves between the iris bushes, which the slugs use as shelter, then collect them together with the slugs and destroy. There is another way to deal with slugs: in dry weather, early in the morning or in the evening, scatter granular metaldehyde over the area at the rate of 30-40 g per 10 m 2.

If you are not going to plant your irises this year, then it is best to cut the flower stalks after flowering. If the leaves begin to turn yellow, you can cut off the yellowness by making the tip of the leaf semicircular - it looks very cute, and your iris will still decorate the flower bed, and its rhizome will gain nutrients for growth and flowering next year.

If the autumn is warm, the irises can bloom again.

When the leaves finally dry out, cut them at a height of 10-15 cm and burn them to destroy possible pest eggs or pathogens.

In the photo: Reproduction of irises by division

Before the onset of cold weather, sprinkle the bare roots of irises with earth, cover the area with a layer of sand or peat 8-10 cm thick.If there is a possibility of severe or prolonged frosts, cover the area with dry foliage or spruce branches. If the winter is snowy, the irises will not need shelter.

If you bought or dug up rhizomes of bearded irises in the fall and want to keep them until spring, the best place to store them is in a cold, dry room. Fold the well-dried roots into a box and take them out onto a balcony or loggia. You just need to first wrap each root in paper, cloth or sprinkle them in a box with dry sawdust or dry peat.

In the photo: Preparing irises for storage

All other types of irises are moisture-loving, therefore The best way to save the iris root until spring is to plant it in a flowerpot, after cutting off the long roots, disinfecting it in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and drying it after that. The root is not immersed deeply in the ground, lightly sprinkled with earth on top. In the spring, the sprouted root, together with an earthen clod, is planted in the ground.

Types and varieties of irises

Bearded irises

According to the flower shape, root irises are divided by botany into bearded and non-bearded ones. Bearded irises, so called because of the shaggy hairs on the petals, have their own classification (tall, medium-sized, curb, standard medium-sized, small-flowered medium-sized, medium-sized binder, standard dwarf, miniature dwarf, table, arylbreds, aryls and aryllopredbreds, arylbreds, arylbreds, arylbreds, arylbreds and aryl-like arylbreds). But this classification is for scientists, for amateur flower growers they are all just bearded irises of different sizes.

In the photo: Bearded irises

In culture, there are hundreds of varieties of tall bearded iris, which also exists under the name German iris. Iris Germanic - the most common type of bearded iris. Here are some popular varieties that will brighten up any garden:

Baltic Sea- strongly corrugated irises of deep blue color with blue beards;
Bewilderbest- corrugated creamy burgundy red with stripes and strokes of yellow and white;
Acoma- sky blue-ivory with lavender border, very popular with Americans.

German Iris (Iris germanica)

Non-bearded irises

The generalizing name is conditional, includes the following species: Siberian iris, Japanese iris, spuria iris, Louisiana iris, Californian iris, marsh iris and other irises (specific and interspecific). We will tell you about the most popular species in our latitudes:

Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica)

Whose natural color varies from blue to dark purple, although today about 1000 varieties with different colors have already been bred, for example:

irises white Snow Queen;
Imperial opal 80 cm high, pink lavender color, flowers up to 10 cm in diameter;
iris yellow with white border Batts & Suga.

There is only one drawback - Siberian iris is devoid of aroma.

In the photo: Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica)