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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 simple or double flowers. Photos of Siberian iris and its varieties will help you decide on the choice of a variety for the garden.
General description of Siberian irises
A wild species of Siberian iris (Íris sibírica) grows in the European part, in Siberia and in the Far East. Quite a wide distribution area is due to the frost resistance of the plant, unpretentiousness to weather conditions and soil composition.
The culture is considered an endangered species protected by law in Latvia, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia
Description of Siberian iris (pictured), listed in the Red Book:
- Stems are erect, often branched, growing up to 110 cm in height.
- The leaves are narrow, linear, 80 cm long, 5 cm wide. The leaf plates are soft, dark green, with smooth edges and a pointed tip.
- Small flowers - up to 6 cm in diameter. Located at the tops of the peduncles. 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 blotches at the base of the lower petals.
The root system is superficial, creeping, highly branched. The plant produces a lot of root growth. In one area, it 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 Japanese varieties. At the age of four, the plant forms up to 35 buds. The flowering time depends on the variety, mainly from May to June. The buds do not bloom at the same time, the life cycle of one specimen is 5 days. The flowering time of Siberian iris is 15-21 days, this indicator also depends on the variety.
Distinctive features of Siberian irises
The main advantages of Siberian irises include the 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 a reaction towards alkaline is not suitable for planting.
Wild species and hybrids based on them are distinguished by high immunity
Plants do not infect infections and garden pests.
Siberian irises varieties
Siberian irises include hybrid beardless varieties of Limniris. Most often, the plants are tall (up to 120 cm), but there are also dwarf forms that do not grow above 40 cm. The petals are colored cyan, blue, violet, yellow with variations in shades of red, orange or magenta. The varieties retain their decorative appearance throughout the season thanks to the leaves that do not change color until the onset of frost. An overview 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. 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, the Snow Queen or Snow Queen, is distinguished by a rare color for the culture. The flowers are simple, 10 cm in diameter. The petals are white with a lemon-colored heart. The leaves are thin, curved, bright green, the stems reach 90 cm in height. Siberian iris blooms in July, the cycle duration is 21 days.
The Snow Queen is a variety with multiple buds, up to 50 of them can be found 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, ivory-colored with a yellow fragment at the base. The petals are rounded, slightly corrugated, of the same size. Grown in the open field for the decoration of the territory and cutting.
White Swirl bloom begins in mid-May
Representatives of this variety outwardly resemble daffodil bushes.
Ruffled Plus
Hybrid Ruffled Plus (tousled) is a member of the group of Siberian iris terry varieties. This is a medium-sized compact bush with a height of 65-70 cm, a width of 40 cm, 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 core.
Flowering at Ruffled Plus is abundant, long, begins in May-June
Altai leader
A hybrid of Russian selection, one of the frost-resistant representatives. Siberian Iris Altai Leader is the most common plant in temperate gardens, its description is as follows:
- height - 80-95 cm, width - 50 cm;
- leaves are 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;
- the petals are blue with a purple tint.
The variety is referred to as terry varieties.
Up to three buds bloom simultaneously on one peduncle
Barcelona
A variety of Siberian irises Barcelona (Barselona) is a rather rare two-color hybrid. Differs in the exotic shape and color of the flower. The stipules are strongly lowered and inverted, colored 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 violet, closer to purple. The bracts are patterned in 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 Bowes
The hybrid form of Siberian irises Rosy Bows (pink bows) is one of the decorative representatives of the terry group. The culture of Dutch selection is distinguished by late flowering - June-August. The plant is medium-sized (80 cm in height), compact, with abundant bud formation. Rosie Bows is classified as an elite variety.
The color of the petals can be light lavender, blue, but there are representatives with dark pink flowers
Hohenflug
The Hohenflug (high flying) Siberian iris repairing variety 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 they grow a culture for drawing up bouquets
Concord Crash
Terry hybrid Concord Crush produces flowers of a rich dark blue color, petals with a brown area at the base acquire an ink shade in the sun. The culture is medium-sized (up to 60 cm), width - 30 cm. Flowering begins in May, lasts 20 days.
The plant is light-loving; when grown in the shade, it loses its decorative effect
Alba
The representative of Siberian ayrovidny 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 intense stem formation and abundant flowering, starting in July and lasting three weeks. Petals are white with yellow patches at the base.
In the landscape, Alba is used to decorate the banks of reservoirs
At low air humidity, the flowers dry and crumble.
Pink parfait
A double-flowered hybrid Pink Parfate 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 is May-June.
Butter
A hybrid variety of Siberian irises of the Dutch selection Butter and Sugar is characterized by different colors of flowers. Bracts are light yellow with green blotches 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 Siberian irises is the Iris 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.
The Kasatik variety is used in design to create borders and design rock gardens
Black Joker
The Black Joker hybrid (black joker) has an exotic color of flowers. Fouls are dark purple with a golden border around the edges and yellow stripes at the base, lavender petals with veins, styles are dark blue. The bush is low - 50-60 cm, compact. There are 4 buds on the peduncle.
Black Joker bloom begins in June and lasts 20 days
Blue king
The Blue King (blue king) variety of Siberian irises has a bright blue color of flowers. Their diameter does not exceed 15 cm. The fouls are long, round, with a brindle pattern near the pith. The central petals are elliptical with wavy edges, erect. Plant height - 1.3-1.5 m, leaves are narrow, long, hard, dark green color.
Blue King blooms in July for two weeks
Swan in Flight
Swan in Flight is a hybrid of Siberian irises with large, simple flowers. 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 found its main use 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 do not grow higher than 70 cm. The flowers are simple, open, with light blue rounded petals and orange blotches at the base. Diameter - 10-15 cm, single arrangement on the peduncle.
The Kassandra variety is drought-resistant, but demanding on lighting.
Big Ben
The bush is medium-sized, 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. The diameter of the flowers is 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 type of conifers, ornamental shrubs, flowering flora.
After the flowering period, the stems are pruned.Shrubs with dense long foliage give the landscape decorativeness. A popular decor technique is the creation of iridariums, flower beds in an urban area or on a personal plot, planted with different varieties of plants.
Several solutions on how to use Siberian irises in garden design:
- They are planted to delimit landscape zones.
- They decorate the shores of artificial reservoirs.
- Include in mixborders with ornamental plants.
- Placed on the sides of the garden path.
- Decorate rockeries.
- For tamping lawn edges.
- Rock gardens decorate.
- In mass planting to fill the empty area.
Conclusion
A photo of Siberian iris, its application 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.
