27 April 2025
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A sunny spot but don’t overwater says Beth Chatto Garden’s growing manager, Marc
“ The countdown is on for the Prime Minister show of the horticultural year , RHS Chelsea Flower Show , and we ca n’t wait to see this class ’s gardens . Last yr one of our favourites was Sarah Price ’s garden and we were very lofty to have provide many of the Iris ’s exhibit , so in honour of the Iris here ’s Marc explaining more about his favourite plant . ”
Whether you love them or abominate them , it can not be denied that the tall , bewhiskered iris is a statement plant and one which tug the need , in some of us , to gather up them . I had never considered myself an iris collector , but when I startle writing this article , I give away that I have clearly become one .
With more than 50 unlike cultivars in our collection , the effect is breathtaking when they bloom en - masse on our stockbeds – it is like an explosion in an artist ’s paint box . This is a very disposed description as over half within our collection are Benton irises , breed by Sir Cedric Morris , celebrated painter , horticulturist and the creative force behind the famous garden at Benton End . He was a notable iris diaphragm breeder and although many of his 90 or so innovation have been lost , several have been rediscovered and their name avow .
Beth ’s own connection with Sir Cedric Morris set out in the 1950s , and their friendship grew over the age based on their mutual love of plants . Cedric became Beth ’s mentor as well as a rich reservoir of plants , many still found in the garden today .
For some , a whiskered iris is a floral pyrotechnic , almost over before it has begun and barely deserving the effort . With the average iris diaphragm only flowering for a month , I can understand this item of purview . However , for me , the anticipation is the thing , starting with the build up as the flower stems gain height , reaching for the sky before their final eruption into prime like the stopping point of springiness and the porta of the summertime season . It is well deserving waiting for .
How to mature and care for whiskery fleur-de-lis
Marc at the Sarah Price Chelsea Flower Show Garden last year with Irises
plant can be divided every three , four or five years before they become overcrowded and start out to bloom less . As the rhizomes multiply and spread out , the rooter - forge leaf form a circle shade the rhizomes , which finally results in less blooms .
Lift and divide bearded irises a calendar month after they have land up flowering . Plant out between July and mid - October to allow them to get well established before the winter sets in . Bearded irises need plenitude of heat and Sunday and the soil must have very sound drainage . Ideally they will be well spaced at approximately 30 - 40 curium ( 30 - 40 in ) apart . Any nearer and they will want to be thinned out more often to conserve flowering , and to decoct disease .
The rhizomes like to be exposed , sit down on the open with the roots firmly ground in the soil . To ensure they receive maximum light , plant rhizomes so they face the sun and keep them loose of weed to slenderize shadowiness . body of water the irises after institute , but once established they require very little irrigation . In fact , it is better to under - water than over - piddle a barbate fleur-de-lis , as too much moisture can lead to rotting .
Iris Production at the gardens jpg
Some of our favourite bearded irises :
Iris ‘ Jane Phillips ’
Iris pallida ‘ Argentea Variegata ’
Overcrowded rhizomes
Benton ‘ Menace ’
Benton ‘ Dierdre ’
Lift and divide
