In the terminology of the iris world, this genus is divided into two categories, the bearded ones also called pogon and the beardless types called apogon.

Beardless iris do not have filaments or crests on the fall. They are generally not considered as showy as the bearded iris but they are more adaptable to a wider variety of conditions. Many of them thrive on poorly drained, wet soils and some may be planting in ponds.

There are several subcategories of beardless iris including:

Louisiana Iris Hybrids


As the name implies, these iris are native to the Gulf Coast area of the Southern United States which makes them hardy in Zones 8 to 10. They grow to about 2 or 3 feet in height and bear flowers that are 3 to 4 inches in size. Bloom colors span a very wide range including white through cream and yellow to bronze, pink, red, blue, purple and near black. Some say Louisiana Iris species have flowers of more different colors in the wild than any other plant. The blooms appear in mid to late spring.

Some of these plants were known for rapidly developing long rhizomes and spreading around the garden. Newer cultivars have been selected to limit this behavior. Louisiana iris do not rebloom.

Another division of this group has been defined as those developed along the Gulf Coast and those found in the Mississippi Delta.

The Iris species included in this group are:

  • I. hexagona
  • I. fulva
  • I. follosa
  • I. gigansicaerulea

Japanese Iris Hybrids


Flower types in this group of iris range from typical singles with 3 large falls (sepals) to peony like double flowers with 9 or 12 petals. The blooms are described as single, double, triple, multipetaled, monstrosa and novelty. They tend to have flat tops and many are shades or mottled versions of lavender-rose, purple, white and blue.. Most of these cultivars have come from hybridizers in China and Japan who made crosses that include the species I. kaempferi.

These are plants that need an acid soil with a pH in the range of 5.5 to 6.5. Japanese iris like a constant supply of water similar to the requirement by Louisiana iris. In proper growing conditions, they will form a large clump in about 3 or 4 years and may need to be divide to maintain blooming. Unlike some other types of iris, Japanese iris do not rebloom.

  • Asato Birako'
  • 'Bellender Blue'
  • 'Haku-Botan'
  • 'Nara'
  • 'Oriental Fantasy'
  • 'Pink Pearl'
  • 'Shei Shonagon'
  • 'Waka Murasaki'
  • 'Wine Ruffles'

Siberian Iris Hybrids


As the name implies, these plants from the northern climates are very cold hardy and thrive in cooler regions. They grow up to about 3 or 4 feet in height with flowers about 3 inches wide. Most of their blossoms come in deep blue, purple and violet but some of the newer cultivars also bloom yellow. Siberian iris bloom later than the tall bearded iris.

Siberian iris will tolerate wet conditions and may actually be grown in a backyard pond. The thin, grass like foliage is attractive when the plant is not in bloom. Of all the Iris species, this one is probably the most reliable in the home garden.

  • 'Caesar's Brother
  • 'Coronation Anthem'
  • 'Esther C.D.M.'
  • 'High Standards'
  • 'Indy'
  • 'Jeweled Crown'
  • 'Mesa Pearl'
  • 'Orville Fay'
  • 'Roaring Jelly'
  • 'Strawberry Flair'

Repeat Bloomers - These are iris that have a primary bloom time and then will sometimes have some blooms later in the season. "Rebloomers" refers to those that continue to form blossoms throughout the season once they start. The following is a list of Siberian iris that often repeat bloom.

  • 'Lavender Light'
  • 'My Love'
  • 'Reprise'
  • 'Soft Blue'
  • 'Springs Brook'

Spuria Iris Hybrids


These are beardless iris that are some of the tallest of all iris growing to a height of 5 feet. There are about 20 species of this type of iris found in the temperate zones of the world such as sunny sites in Siberia.

Spuria iris form large, 4 inch wide flowers in spring and early summer. They come in colors of  white, cream, yellow, brown, blue and purple. Some blooms have a blend of colors with distinctive veins.

Perhaps the key requirement of these plants is a dry summer. In most areas, the summer rains are too much for them to handle. So, they need warm, dry conditions although some species are known to survive in Montana and Minnesota.

Spuria Iris species:  
  • Iris orientalis (Iris ochroleuca)
  • Iris crocea
  • Iris sintenisii
  • Iris graminea
 
Spuria Iris species - Iris:  
  • 'Amber Gleem'
  • 'Color Focus'
  • 'Lady Butterfly'
  • 'Lavender Waves'
  • 'Royal Cadet'
  • 'Snow Giant'
  • 'Sunset Colors'
  • 'Yellowcopter'
  • 'Zulu Chief'

Pacific Coast Natives or Californicae


This iris group is appropriately named since most of the species in it will not grow well except in their native environs. In those areas, they grow about 12 to 24 inches in height and have delicate flowers.

  • I. douglasiana
  • I. innominaia
 

Species Iris


A species is often defined as a plant that currently resides in the wild or there is evidence such as an herbarium sample that shows that it did in the past. These are not cultivated varieties, i.e. cultivars.

  • I. confusa (Evansia)
  • I. missouriensis
  • I. tectorum
 

I. bakerana Baker Iris 12"        
I. bracteata Braeted Iris 4-12" 7 yellow with brown-purple veins Feb OR
I. brevicaulls (foliasa) Lamance Iris     blue-purple, with a zigzag stem   Ky. to Kansas
chrysographes Goldvein Iris 8" 7 violet to velvet-purple marked with golden veins June West China
I. delavayi Delavays Iris 3-4" 7 Stems hollow, flowers violet-purple with white markings. June Southwest
China
I. dichotoma Vesper Iris     several flowers in racemes on forked stems - white with brown-purple spots and purplish stripes Aug to Sep  
I. douglasiana Douglas Iris 20" 8 lilac-purple, lavender or buff to creamy white - evergreen   CA to OR
I. foetidissima Gladwin Iris     small and inconspicuous, purplish gray - evergreen June Southern Europe
I. fulva Copper Iris 12-36" 7 coppery orange to salmon pink May
-June
South United States
I. giganticaerulea     7 Violet-blue June Southern La.
I. hartwegii Foothill Iris   7 yellow with lavender veins   Northern Ca.
I. hexagona Dixie Iris 24-36" 7 blue flowers May
-June
South United States
I. innominata     8 golden buff, veined light brown and there are cream-colored varieties June OR
I. laevigata Rabbit Ear Iris 24" 4 blue-purple, but white forms June
-July
Japan
I. macrosiphon Tube Iris   8 lilac, but sometimes white or cream colored 1-3 flowers per stalk   CA and OR
I. missouriensis Rocky Mountain Iris 6-24" 3 pale blue and variegated   S.Dak., Ariz. and British Columbia
I. orientalis Oriental Iris 24" 3 blue sometimes white related to I.sibirica May
-June
E. Asia
I. prismatica Cubeseed Iris 36" 3 2-3 in a terminal cluster, deep but bright Lilac-blue Similar to I.sibirica but the stem is solid. May Nova Scotia
to Ga.
I. pseudacorus Yellow Flag Iris          
I. purdyi Purdy Iris 12" 8 range of colors from white or cream to lavender and orchid, almost pink May - June N. CA to OR
I. regalis   12" 8  lilac colored, musk­scented   Southern La.
I. setosa Arctic Iris   2 purple

one of the hardiest of all the Iris.

May
-June
E. Siberia, Japan and
North America
I. spuria Spurious Iris, Seashore Iris 12-24" 2-3 sessile flowers are bright lilac streaked with purple and some white June
-July
Europe and Asia
I. spurin halophylla   12-18" 5 Small flowers, falls are white with purple veins and sonic dull yellow

I. spuria and not very different

  Caucasus Mountains
I. tenax OR Iris   5 soft shades of cream, lavender, orchid and white    
I. lenuissima   14" 9 cream to white with purple to brown markings

similar to I. puvdyi, but not so vigorous.

  CA
I. versicolor Blue Flag 24-36" 3 blue flowers splashed with yellow, the flowers usually solitary   E. Canada to Pa.
I. virginica Virginia Iris 24-48" 7 similar to I.versicolor, with flowers blue to violet May
-June
S.E. US
I. wilsonii Wilson Iris E.H. Wilson 24"   similar to those of I. sibirica except that they are yellow and have divergent, not erect, standards June Western
China
I. reticulata   4-6"   fragrant, purple and whitish   Asia Minor

 

 

 
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