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Irises have earned the recognition of gardeners for the variety of flower colors. In landscape design, hybrid forms are used. They can be tall and dwarf, with single or double flowers. Photos of the Siberian iris and its varieties will help you decide on the choice of variety for the garden.
General description of Siberian irises
The wild-growing species of Siberian iris (Íris sibírica) grows in the European part, Siberia and the Far East. A rather extensive distribution area is due to the frost resistance of the plant, unpretentiousness to weather conditions and soil composition.
The culture is an endangered species protected by law in Latvia, Ukraine, Belarus and Our Country
Description of the Siberian iris (pictured), listed in the Red Book:
- The stems are erect, often branched, grow up to 110 cm in height.
- The leaves are narrow, linear, 80 cm long, 5 cm wide. The leaf blades are soft, dark green, with smooth edges and a pointed apex.
- The flowers are small – up to 6 cm in diameter. Located at the top of the flower stalks. Bracts drooping, in the form of an ellipse, the central petals are erect, concave towards the center.
- The color is purple or blue, with white or yellowish patches at the base of the lower petals.
The root system is superficial, creeping, highly branched. The plant gives a lot of basal shoots. On one site can bloom for more than 15 years.
When and how Siberian irises bloom
Siberian irises have small flowers, but more of them are formed than in Japanese varieties. At the age of four years, the plant forms up to 35 buds. Flowering time depends on the variety, mainly May-June. The buds do not bloom at the same time, the life cycle of one copy is 5 days. The flowering time of the Siberian iris is 15-21 days, this figure also depends on the variety.
Distinctive features of Siberian irises
The main advantages of Siberian irises include high frost resistance of the culture. Thanks to this quality, the plant can be grown in various climatic zones (3-9). Irises are hardy, with simple agricultural techniques, stress-resistant, do not react to temperature changes and lack of lighting.
Soil with an alkaline reaction is not suitable for planting.
Wild-growing species and hybrids based on them are highly immune
Plants do not infect infections and garden pests.
Varieties of Siberian irises
Siberian irises include hybrid beardless varieties of Limniris. More often, plants are tall (up to 120 cm), but there are also dwarf forms that do not grow above 40 cm. Petals are colored blue, blue, purple, yellow with variations in shades of red, orange or purple. The varieties retain their decorative appearance throughout the season thanks to the leaves that do not change color until frost. A review of the best varieties of Siberian irises used in ornamental gardening will help you choose a crop for any region.
Harpswell Haze
Iris Harpswell Hayes is distinguished by numerous shoots 85 cm high. The flowers have a diameter of 13 cm, which is considered large for Siberian irises. The number of buds on a bush is 25-30 pcs. The bracts are blue with purple veins and a contrasting yellowish-brown fragment near the pith. Styles (pistil branches) are light blue. The flowering period is the second half of June.
Harpswell Hayes is used in floristry
The Snow Queen
The variety of Siberian irises Snow Queen or Snow Queen (Snow Queen) is distinguished by a color that is rare for the culture. The flowers are simple with a diameter of 10 cm. The petals are white with a lemon-colored core. The leaves are thin, arched, bright green, the stems reach a height of 90 cm. The Siberian iris blooms in July, the cycle duration is 21 days.
Snow Queen – a variety with multiple buds, there can be up to 50 of them on an adult plant
White Swirl
Siberian iris White Swirl (white whirlwind) is a tall, compact, dense herbaceous shrub up to 1 m high. The flowers are simple, open, have an ivory color with a yellow fragment at the base. Petals are rounded, slightly corrugated, the same size. Grown in open ground for decoration of the territory and cutting.
The flowering period of White Swirl begins in mid-May
Representatives of this variety outwardly resemble daffodil bushes.
Raffled Plus
Hybrid Ruffled Plus (ruffled) is included in the group of terry varieties of Siberian irises. This is a medium-sized compact shrub 65-70 cm high, 40 cm wide, with long, narrow, bright green leaves. The lower petals are rounded, the inner ones are oblong, with wavy edges. Lavender color with purple veins and a white center.
Flowering at Ruffled Plus is abundant, long, begins in May-June
Leader of Altai
Hybrid of the selection, one of the frost-resistant representatives. Siberian iris Leader of Altai is the most common plant in temperate gardens, its description is as follows:
- height – 80-95 cm, width – 50 cm;
- leaves xiphoid, narrow, 70 cm long, light green;
- bracts are dark blue with a white border along the edge and a yellow fragment at the base;
- petals are blue with a purple tinge.
The variety is referred to as terry varieties.
On one peduncle, up to three buds bloom at the same time
Barcelona
A variety of Siberian irises Barcelona (Barselona) is a rather rare two-color hybrid. Differs in an exotic form and coloring of a flower. Stipules strongly lowered and everted, burgundy with an orange tint and white stripes at the base. Styles are long, erect, bright yellow with wavy edges.
Iris Barcelona has large, glossy leaves with a bluish bloom, which turn brown by autumn.
Hubbard
The variety of Siberian irises Hubbard is characterized by simple, large flowers with a diameter of 17 cm. The tall plant reaches up to 120 cm. The flowers are purple, closer to purple. The bracts have a pattern of blue, white and yellow. The leaves are narrow, long, soft, light green.
The Hubbard iris variety has the longest flowering period, lasting from mid-May to July.
Rosie Baus
The hybrid form of Siberian irises Rosy Bows (pink bows) is one of the decorative representatives of the terry group. The culture of the Dutch selection is distinguished by late flowering – June-August. The plant is medium-sized (80 cm in height), compact, with abundant bud formation. Rosie Bous belongs to the elite varieties.
The color of the petals can be light lavender, blue, but there are representatives with dark pink flowers.
soaring
The remontant variety of Siberian irises Hohenflug (high flight) is one of the tallest varieties. A dense, sprawling bush reaches a height of 160 cm. It is rarely found on sale, it is expensive, but it also blooms 2 times per season – in June and August. A plant with short leaves located at the base of the bush. The flowers of Siberian irises are purple with white stripes at the base, simple.
More often grown culture for making bouquets
Concorde Crash
The double hybrid Concord Crush produces rich dark blue flowers, the petals with a brown area at the base in the sun take on an inky hue. The culture is medium tall (up to 60 cm), width – 30 cm. Flowering begins in May, lasts 20 days.
The plant is photophilous, when grown in the shade it loses its decorative effect.
Alba
The representative of the Siberian irises Alba (japonese Alba) reaches a height of about 80 cm. The flowers are medium-sized, their diameter does not exceed 8 cm. The bush is very dense with intensive stem formation and abundant flowering, starting in July and lasting three weeks. Petals are white with yellow fragments at the base.
In the landscape, Alba is used to decorate the banks of reservoirs.
At low humidity, the flowers dry and fall off.
Pink Perfect
A double-flowered hybrid, Pink Parfait is a medium-sized herbaceous shrub reaching 70-80 cm in height. The flowers are pale pink in color, with numerous petals. Bracts are rounded with an orange spot at the base, wavy edges and thin purple veins.
The flowering period of Pink Parfait falls on May-June
Boots
A hybrid variety of Siberian irises of the Dutch selection Butter and Sugar is characterized by a different color of flowers. Bracts are light yellow with a green blotch at the base, styles are white, long, open. Flower diameter – 10 cm. Plant height – 70 cm. Flowering time – mid-summer.
Four or more buds are formed on one peduncle Butter
Iris
The only bearded representative of the Siberian irises is the Kasatik of a dwarf form, the height of the bush is 45-50 cm. The flowers are large – 15 cm in diameter with burgundy bracts and light blue styles. Flowering time is May.
Variety Kasatik is used in design to create borders and design rock gardens
Black Joker
Hybrid Black Joker (black joker) has an exotic color of flowers. The falls are dark purple with a golden border around the edges and yellow stripes at the base, the petals are veined lavender, the styles are dark blue. The bush is low – 50-60 cm, compact. There are 4 buds on the peduncle.
Flowering at Black Joker begins in June and lasts 20 days
Blue King
The variety of Siberian irises Blue King (blue king) has a bright blue color of flowers. Their diameter does not exceed 15 cm. Falls are long, rounded, with a tiger pattern near the core. The central petals are formed in the form of an ellipse with wavy edges, erect. Plant height – 1,3-1,5 m, leaves are narrow, long, hard, dark green in color.
Blue King blooms in July for two weeks
Swan in Flight
Swan in Flight (swan in flight) – a hybrid of Siberian irises with large simple flowers. The petals are open, white with a yellow or green fragment near the core. The bush reaches 70 cm in height. It is very compact but forms many stems. Blooms in June.
Swan in Flight is suitable for design, but the variety has found its main application in floristry
Cassandra
Cassandra is a dwarf representative of Siberian irises. Blooms in May. The bush is densely leafy, the leaf plates are narrow, much longer than the peduncles. Stems above 70 cm do not grow. The flowers are simple, open, with rounded petals of light blue and orange at the base. Diameter – 10-15 cm, single location on the peduncle.
Variety Kassandra is drought-resistant, but demanding on lighting
Big Ben
The bush is medium tall, dense, compact, reaches a height of 80 cm. The Big Ben variety is one of the abundantly flowering representatives of Siberian irises. The color is deep purple with white fragments on the bracts. Flowers diameter – 7 cm. Flowering in June.
Big Ben is the most common variety in the gardens of the Central Regions
Siberian iris in landscape design
The culture is widely used in ornamental gardening. The plant is combined with any kind of conifers, ornamental shrubs, flowering representatives of the flora.
After the flowering period, the stems are pruned. Bushes with dense long foliage give decorativeness to the landscape. A popular decor technique is the creation of iridaria, flower beds in an urban area or in a personal plot, planted with different plant varieties.
A few solutions on how to use Siberian irises in garden design:
- Planted to delimit landscape zones.
- Make out the banks of artificial reservoirs.
- Include in mixborders with ornamental plants.
- They are located on the sides of the garden path.
- Make rockeries.
- For lawn edging.
- Decorate rock gardens.
- In mass planting to fill the vacant territory.
Conclusion
A photo of the Siberian iris, its use in the landscape, characteristics and descriptions of popular hybrids will help to get a general idea of the variety of varieties. The priority when choosing a crop will be its high rate of frost resistance, simple agricultural technology, strong immunity to diseases and pests.
