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Iridaceae
Bearded Iris
Iris germanica
Wisdom, valor, and faith — a fleur-de-lis ancestor.
- Family
- Iridaceae
- Genus
- Iris
- Native to
- Mediterranean
- Bloom season
- Late Spring, Early Summer
- Type
- rhizomatous perennial
- Height
- 60–120 cm
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- well-drained, neutral to alkaline
- Water
- low; drought-tolerant once established
- Hardiness
- 3–10
- Lifespan
- perennial; clumps live decades
Did you know
- Named for the fuzzy 'beard' of hairs on each fall petal — a landing strip and grip for pollinators.
- Iris germanica has been cultivated since at least 1500 BCE; depictions appear in Egyptian tombs.
- Modern bearded irises come in nearly every color except true red — breeders are still chasing scarlet.
- The dried rhizome ('orris root') smells of violets and is used as a fixative in fine perfumes.
- The fleur-de-lis emblem of French royalty is a stylized iris, not a lily, despite the name.
Color meanings
Purple
wisdom and royalty
White
purity and hope
Yellow
passion and friendship
Blue
faith and trust