Secrets of growing and using Siberian iris in garden design

The unusual bright beauty of irises and the almost unlimited possibilities of using them in the garden make this flower a favorite of designers. Single groups and mixed plantings, single-color and variegated flower beds, an excellent combination with the decorative elements of the site - all these are undeniable advantages of the view.

There are more than 800 species and varieties of this plant, which got its name from the ancient Greek “rainbow” and fully justifies it. Irises (killer whales, cockerels) come in one color, bicolor and iridescent. According to their sizes, they are divided into high (from 0.7 m), medium (up to 0.7 m) and low (up to 0.4 m). The density of their petals varies, from translucent to waxy, the shape is regular, wavy, corrugated, with patterns.

Plants fit well into any style of landscape design, take root on rocky slopes, and are unpretentious in care. Low-growing varieties will become an attractive decoration of garden paths and borders. Tall irises look natural around ponds and decorative pools.

Pond and rock garden with irises

Designs with irises are often used to decorate a garden reservoir: a pond or stream.
You can decorate a pond with almost nothing but irises, and it will be beautiful and natural, since they go well with water. Irises can also decorate the water itself: for example, the water iris grows in shallow water. If you have created a swamp flowerbed in your garden, then you absolutely cannot do without irises. Here you can plant bearded, marsh, and water irises, complementing the composition with other marsh plants.

In the garden, irises are often part of the rock garden. All varieties of these flowers go well with coniferous plants. Therefore, if you have planned a coniferous garden, by the way, there will be single plantings of them on its territory.

Pay attention to the photo of irises: in the garden this Art Nouveau flower goes well with forged elements. You can plant a group of irises against the background of a forged trellis

For the same reason, they go well with elegant decorative bridges.

Irises combined with other flowers

Original ideas from the photo selection, where irises are in a flowerbed with other flowers, will become an incentive to create a composition for a summer house or country house.

Tall irises in the same flower bed with herbaceous peonies

Irises in company with lupins

The lawns will highlight a rich palette of colors. Irises will complement a flower garden with other crops. Goes well with other types of plants. You can decorate a pond with moisture-loving plants; flowers will add color to the landscape.

Siberian irises on the shore of a pond

Border of irises of different colors in a mixed flowerbed

Early flowering varieties are pleasing to the eye in the spring, some varieties bloom in the summer.

Variety Spakling Rose in combination with decorative maple

Irises always look great in garden design compositions, what colors does the photo go with:

• Saxifraga and sedum will be a good background;
• crocuses, low-growing tulips and trailing phlox add color.

Perhaps in proximity to daylilies, white and pale pink peonies, light roses. The sultans of delphinium and lupins are harmoniously combined with the buds of irises.

Floral mix – irises and saxifrage

Irises in the same flowerbed with daylilies

Unusual neighbors - irises and hostas

Iris is a universal flower, a bright element of landscape design. Flowers will be a good addition to arched structures entwined with ivy or wild grapes and will hide uneven terrain.

Use in landscape design

In suburban areas with a large territory in the Art Nouveau style, you can find entire gardens of iris - iridarium. Mandatory attributes of this style are not only the presence of large quantities of irises, but also a source of water, stone and garden furniture made from traditional materials. When choosing a varietal variety for an iridarium, the size, color, beginning, duration of flowering and harmonious combination with other plants are taken into account.

In the Art Nouveau style, a group planting of irises decorates various water sources, creating an incredibly beautiful landscape reflected in the water and harmoniously combined with stone.

After all, even a small stream can play the role of decorating a garden. In this case, irises use two varieties - smooth and swamp. They bring the landscape as close as possible to its original natural appearance. This is a real vacation spot. At the pond, irises are combined with representatives of conifers - thujas or dwarf pine. The marsh and Siberian varieties are located closer to the water. The free space between the plants is filled with pebbles or stone chips.

Multicolor compositions can also be found in flower beds

Due to its short flowering time, the plant is combined with other later flowering crops to create an evenly changing pattern. Planting iris in small groups can be done in a decorative basket, which is buried shallowly in the ground. Irises grow beautifully and add a spectacular appearance to the landscape. If desired, it can be dug up after flowering, and annual garden plants can be planted in the vacant space. With enough free space, every gardener can present his collection of irises in full glory

A skillfully chosen color scheme is important. Plants with two or more shades are planted only if there is a solid background

Mixing multicolored colors is undesirable. The background for multi-colored species can be pine needles, hosta and other plants of calm shades.

Irises are actively used as a tapeworm

To do this, several units of different colors are planted. For example, purple, pure white and white-violet iris. Choose a well-groomed lawn, a building wall, or a non-flowering shrub as a background. Another option for tapeworm is planting irises in height. Tall, medium-sized and dwarf elements are used. The distance between them should be at least 50 cm. This harmonious composition against the background of dark soil or peat chips will look even more elegant.

Irises also decorate rockeries. Dwarf varieties grow on a stone hill. The “neighbors” of iris can be crocuses, saxifrage, sedums, phlox and tulips. In a stone flower garden with junipers, irises in brown, purple and yellow shades are used as the main background. If the background is light stones, then preference is given to iris of burgundy and dark blue colors. Sometimes rockeries are also decorated with medium-sized irises, such as bearded irises. This rare exception appears only if it does not violate the proportions.

Caring for iris at home

Irises are completely unpretentious: they are not afraid of drafts and sunlight, their flower stalks are strong, and their clumps are thick. With proper care, these plants can pleasantly surprise you with the abundance and duration of flowering, as well as the lush greenery of many narrow and long leaves.

Lighting

The herbaceous iris bush can be planted both in partial shade and in open areas. The climate of the middle zone allows you to safely place the flower in sunny areas. This will not damage the plant, but will promote its development and abundant flowering. The southern heat will also not destroy the iris, but it will require abundant and frequent watering. Therefore, in the south, iris is planted in partial shade or in places illuminated by the sun only in the morning or evening.

This flower is so unpretentious that it will grow in dense shade, but in this case the flowering will be minimal.

Temperature and humidity

The plant tolerates both winter cold and summer heat. Flowering occurs in late spring or early summer, when temperatures do not damage the plant. Green leaves appear at the beginning of spring and do not lose their attractiveness until frost. There is no need to dig up irises for the winter.

Dryness or excess moisture does not affect the formation and growth of the plant. If necessary, you can compensate for drought by abundant watering. As for moisture, the plant feels good both in wet alpine meadows and near ponds. Flowers planted near water are beautifully reflected in the water. And the abundance of moisture does not harm the roots.

Watering and fertilizing

Irises respond very well to fertilization: sensing improved conditions, they produce many flower stalks. It is recommended to use soil acidifiers, for example, nitrate (ammonium, potassium). Fertilize iris twice:

• after the snow melts;
• when flower stalks appear.

Do not fertilize during flowering. If the required period is missed, it is better to fertilize the plant at the end of summer.

The abundance and frequency of watering is regulated in accordance with temperature and natural conditions. The soil should be well moistened: the dry surface layer should not exceed 2 cm. Rare but abundant watering is recommended, which deeply saturates the soil with moisture. Regular mulching helps keep the roots cool. Iris grows for decades, so every year you need to check the depth of the rhizome and, if necessary, add soil.

Preparing for winter

Irises are not afraid of frost and tolerate winter cold well even without shelter. But for this they must have time to take root.

If severe frosts are expected, you can insulate the roots of the plant with coniferous spruce branches.

Cover immediately before the cold snap, cutting off the leaves to 10 cm and removing the flower stalks. If critical frosts are not expected, then pruning can be postponed to spring and carried out before the first application of fertilizers.

How else can you use irises in garden landscape design?

Designers willingly create single garden compositions - tapeworms - from these luxurious, unpretentious flowers. For group planting, irises of the same type, but of different shades, are usually taken. They can be placed against the backdrop of a lawn or ornamental shrub that does not bloom. A composition of varieties that differ in height looks good.

Irises bloom

Another successful option for using irises in landscape design is the design of a hill or rock garden. For this purpose, it is best to plant miniature varieties. They are combined with saxifrage, sedum, crocuses, small tulips and creeping phlox. Flowers of a dark palette (brown, burgundy, deep purple) can be combined with light decorative stones. It is appropriate to plant yellow and blue irises against the backdrop of creeping juniper.

A marsh or Siberian variety of perennial culture is an excellent addition to a natural or artificial pond or lake. A cozy place to relax is decorated with pebbles or gravel. The completion of the garden composition will be given by thujas, against which irises are planted. These flowers are also good for decorating borders and borders. They can be combined with other crops or used in monoplantings.

When choosing perennial varieties by shade or height, consider their growing conditions. Not all irises can be combined with each other in one area.

Iris flower beds: flower beds, iridariums, modules

The color palette of irises is very diverse. Thanks to this, in landscape design you can create lush and impressive-looking compositions from iris. Each variety blooms at its own time, so they can be selected so that the arranged flowerbed surprises with its colors throughout the flowering period - from May to July.

From iridescent plants you can create an original bright flower bed or a small garden - iridarium . It is very popular in garden decoration due to the wide range of plant possibilities and is close in size to an average flower bed. Plants are planted in groups, leaving sufficient gaps between them to allow for the growth of the bed. It is also convenient to walk along them for those who want to enjoy the blooming irises up close. For greater attractiveness, it is better to mulch the open soil of the paths, that is, sprinkle with wood chips or previously crushed tree bark. Other plants and decorative elements will add originality to the iridariums: benches, decorative pools, fountains, arches.

The potential of flowers will be revealed by modular planting. Typically, modules in the shape of a rectangle or square are used. The modules can be framed with curbs: concrete, brick, wood, or paths made of paving slabs.

To create a luxurious flower garden, recommendations from experts will come in handy:

• for two-color varieties, a smooth, monochromatic background is used, for example, a lawn;
• multi-colored crops look beautiful next to conifers and flora with pale leaves;
• It is important to maintain certain intervals between varieties: small irises look better with a distance of 10-15 cm, medium ones - 15-20 cm, tall ones - 35-40 cm;
• small varieties are placed in front, tall ones in the back.

A tapeworm will be an effective decoration for a dacha or country house. These are single compositions in the garden plot . Usually these are single-species irises of various shades. If they are different in height, this will add zest to the composition. The background will be a lawn or a non-flowering ornamental shrub.

Variegated multi-colored flowers, collected in one place, will merge into one spot, while dark plants next to light ones will visually enhance each other.

Mono-colors planted in groups look beautiful. The void between the plants will be filled with gravel, which will also ensure ease of maintenance. It is not recommended to plant flowers in a single row - asymmetry emphasizes them more favorably, and the presence of ornamental grasses will add zest.

When laying out a flower garden or flower bed, you need to take into account some nuances:

• there should not be buds of the same color in one group - this makes the flower bed dull and unattractive;
• varieties of pale shades lose out against the background of bright roses and peonies;
• variegated and richly colored iris look better separately.

Types of phlox - choosing the most beautiful

It is very difficult to select the most beautiful flowers, since each gardener has his own. Some prefer low-growing bushes, others prefer tall ones with large inflorescences. Perennial phloxes are very popular among gardeners, as they are more unpretentious in care and do not require annual planting of seedlings.

All phloxes are good and beautiful in their own way, but the following are still considered the most popular:

• Snow Avalanche - belongs to the early flowering pyramidal group. These flowers grow up to 80 cm in height. The flowers are pure white.
• Delta is another flower belonging to the early flowering pyramidal group. The height of an adult plant does not exceed 1 meter. The flowers are white with a crimson center.
• Natasha - develops slowly and grows no more than 80 cm. The flowers are two-colored with white petals and wide raspberry-pink stripes.
• Hummingbird - belongs to the representatives of small-flowered phlox. It is distinguished by branched and large conical inflorescences. The flowers are light lilac-blue shades with a purple star in the center. It is characterized by high winter hardiness.
• Twinkling star - star-shaped flowers with a characteristic fragrant aroma and pointed edges. The bushes are low growing. The flowering period is from June to September. Thanks to its miniature size, this variety can be grown on balconies.
• Ferdinand - grows up to 60 cm in height. The stems are branched with needle-shaped, round, star-shaped, dissected petals. Color may vary. It has a strong aroma and double flowering.

Phlox Snow Avalanche

• David's Lavender is a powerful broad-leaved flower with oval-conical inflorescences of lilac color with a white center.
• Selena is a medium-sized plant, the height of the bush does not exceed 80 cm. Flowering begins in mid-summer. The inflorescences are lush, conical, dark pink in color with a gray haze.
• Bach - grows up to 80 cm in height. The flowers are medium-sized, dark pink with a crimson ring, bloom in July. Flowers of this variety are sensitive to the sun and bad weather, so planting should be done in partial shade.
• Berendey is a compact flower with strong shoots and large rounded inflorescences. The plant grows up to 80 cm in height. The flowers are large, purple in color, covered with a silvery coating.

Phloxes are very beautiful flowers, regardless of the variety or name. Their inflorescences leave no one indifferent, so each gardener must decide for himself which of them to plant on his site.

Phlox David's Lavender

Description and distribution of Siberian iris

Siberian iris is a perennial rhizomatous herbaceous plant, one of the species of the genus of the same name, belonging to the Iris family. In nature, it is capable of reaching a height of 1.5 m and higher, but hybrid forms usually do not exceed 80 cm.

Siberian iris is a perennial rhizomatous herbaceous plant.

Siberian varieties do not have a “beard”. The plants have a fleshy creeping rhizome that produces many shoots. Their stems are strong and branched at the top. The leaves are long (40-80 cm), sword-shaped, with a linear surface, green, and in some varieties grayish.

Peduncles form several at the top of the stem. A classic flower has 6 petals, of which the lower 3 are wider, brighter in color and curve downwards. The middle petals are narrow, monochromatic and curved upward. The natural color of the flower is blue or bluish; hybrids have a variety of shades. “Siberians” bloom in May. Despite the name, they grow almost everywhere, at least on the European continent.

The rhizome of the plant is a valuable medicinal raw material. It contains unique essential oils and components used in folk medicine.

Video “Propagation of Siberian iris”

In this video, the expert will share recommendations for propagating Siberian iris.

Bearded irises

Bearded irises are very common in landscape design. They combine several classes and are the largest group. They differ in height, which must be taken into account when using them in landscape design.

It is very interesting to create an iradarium in the garden. This is a flower garden that is built on a composition from one crop. Its dimensions correspond to the size of an average flower bed.

Bearded irises

Irises are in demand in garden landscape design. With the help of successful iris combinations, your garden design can be completely transformed. In the iridarium you can place several varieties of irises of different colors. Plantings are carried out in groups, the gap between them is filled with small stones. At the same time, do not forget to leave free space, which will be filled by overgrown plants as they grow.

Important! It is not recommended to plant plants in rows; it is better to plant asymmetrically, like on an alpine hill. The boundaries can be either fuzzy or limited by stones of various sizes.

The boundaries can be either fuzzy or limited by stones of various sizes.

Interesting. The Iridarium will look harmonious even on a retaining wall.

You can supplement such a flower garden with the help of cereals, but you should not be zealous; 2-3 groups of cereals are enough. Ceramics or various forgings are used to decorate the iridarium. These can be vessels of various shapes, original benches and bridges, a carved fence.

How to plant irises beautifully? Additional decorations of the iridarium are very important - the flowering period of irises is not very long. The rest of the time, the flower garden will simply delight the eye with greenery. Therefore, the introduction of additional elements is necessary.

Bearded irises amaze with their beauty and diversity - they can be either one-color or two-color, two-tone, iridescent and bordered. With their help, it is easy to decorate the landscape, creating a bright flower garden from it.

Botanical description of the Siberian Iris (with photo)

According to the botanical description in other sources, the class of Siberian irises represents numerous varieties and species included in one classification. They are united by one of the important characteristics - distribution in the wild. The habitat of Íris sibírica occupies most of Eurasia. Numerous varieties are located in the territory from Italy to Switzerland, in the forests and steppes of Lake Baikal. The group is not very well known as a crop in Russia, but is actively found in the wild in all parts of Siberia. Plants have excellent frost resistance and the ability to survive in conditions close to extreme. Irises have spread to the Far East, Primorsky Territory and areas of the 4th climate zone. In some parts of Russia, plants are included in the regional red books, such as in Omsk, Tver and Tyumen. The group contains many varieties that are on the verge of extinction or can no longer be found in nature for a number of reasons.

Unusual Siberian iris flower

Blue iris Siberian iris

The root system of the plant is a dense main root with numerous thin, thread-like shoots that extend in different directions. On the upper part of the rhizome, brown spots remain on the sheaths of the leaf blades, which die off annually. Also, the root system is not without obvious annual growth; they are visible to the naked eye. A stem and numerous leaf blades are formed from the underground part of the plant.

The shoots of Siberian iris reach an average of 80-90 cm in length. The leaves are belt-shaped or xiphoid, collected in the root zone in fans. The plates are dense to the touch, leathery, up to 50-80 cm long. The stem branches in the upper part, flowers in a herbaceous lanceolate wrapper are formed at its top. The flowering period of Siberian irises occurs throughout the summer; some species can bloom as early as bearded dwarfs - in early May.

During the active life cycle, buds of bright colors are formed on short pedicels, collected 2-5 pieces in the apical inflorescence, as shown in the photo of Siberian irises below:

Siberian double iris of beautiful blue color

Unusual Siberian iris how audacious

Lilies - what do they go with in the flowerbed?

If there are lilies in the garden, the combination with other flowers in the flowerbed can be very different. Most often, beginning flower growers practice combinations with options such as:

• peonies,
• roses,
• day-lily,
• discount.

Each of these combinations has its own characteristics. Peonies and lilies are great options. The lush foliage of peonies favorably sets off the beauty of other flowers, moreover, these plants bloom one after another: first peonies, then lilies.

Note! Gardeners often ask whether roses can be planted next to lilies. Experienced gardeners do not recommend planting together, because both plants have large, expressive flowers.

However, if both crops are the same color or shade, planting together is possible.

Anyone who plants lilies and irises makes a mistake. These plants have different flowering times. When irises fade, watering must be limited, while their “neighbors” are just blooming at this time and, on the contrary, need strong soil moisture. Therefore, they do not have the best compatibility. But the friendship between daylily and lily, on the contrary, is beyond doubt, because they need to be cared for in approximately the same way, and these flowers also have a similar aroma.

Lily will be a wonderful addition to the garden. The Thunberg variety is well suited for flowering plants, as it has a low stature and large, bright orange flowers with dark speckles. This is one of the most popular varieties among Russian summer residents.

The best varieties of Siberian iris

The expressive iris flower resembles an exquisite orchid. Its six petals are arranged in two circles, the upper and lower ones being of different shapes, often curved, with a slight fringe. On the lower petals there is a spot of contrasting color. This is a signal, a kind of “landing strip” for an insect wanting to feast on nectar.

The best variety of Siberian irises, which received the prestigious Dykes Medal, was obtained in Great Britain. This is the Cambridge variety - a purple flower, as if dusted with frost, at the base of each petal has a mysterious pattern in the form of a wide golden-brown feather. Of the other varieties, the most attractive are:

• Baccarat – soft orange, with carnation and lilac shades;
• Bebling Brook - bluish-lilac, like the sky at dawn;

Variety Bebling Brook

• Color Kaanivel - ivory, with a bright orange signal surrounded by burgundy strokes;
• The first snow is like a swan with open wings;
• The song tree is yellow, like a chicken, with a signal reminiscent of the yolk in a scrambled egg.

They often joke about the unpretentiousness of irises: “I planted it and forgot.” And although this is not entirely true - the plant still requires careful observation and timely help - it is worth planting iris near the house. Magnificent rich green foliage and spectacular fist-sized flowers will win the heart of any gardener.

Use in landscape design

Irises in the garden create a special atmosphere of oriental flavor; photos of the site’s design demonstrate this perfectly. Orcas occupy a special place in landscape design. The plants do not require regular care; the greenery remains decorative throughout the season.

It's hard to find a garden plot that doesn't have irises.

Irises bloom in spring or early summer, and some varieties bloom again in autumn.

When planting an ornamental crop, several features must be taken into account:

• on a summer cottage in a group, buds of the same color scheme look unattractive;
• varieties with pale colors fade next to peonies and roses of rich shades;
• bright irises do not fit well into the motley picture of a flower bed; they are better used as a tapeworm.

Rhizomatous perennials do not need to be replanted often; the flowers form dense bushes. Iris buds come in different shades. Early bloomers - blue, blue, purple with yellow and white cores. Summer - in yellow-brown tones. Hybrid varieties with burgundy, white, lavender, peach, and red flowers have been developed.

All rhizomatous irises love light, but can also bloom under trees, especially in the southern regions

Perennial irises bloom most luxuriantly in the third year after planting.

Forming alpine slides, irises are planted at the foot of the composition on the western or eastern side.

Alpine hill - a suitable place for planting irises

Popular varieties of Siberian iris

To date, about 800 varieties of Siberian irises have been bred, including tall and dwarf species, with double or simple flowers.

The most common varieties of Siberian iris:

1. Harpswell Hayes is an unpretentious and viable plant, up to 90 cm high, with large purple flowers up to 14 cm in diameter.
2. Snow Queen (Snow Queen) is a rare variety up to 100 cm tall, with flowers of an unusual snow-white color with yellow veins up to 10 cm in diameter. Up to 50 buds are formed on one plant.
3. White Swirl is a tall variety, reaching 110 cm. The inflorescences are creamy yellow, with lemon-colored veins.

No less famous and popular varieties are the violet-lavender Ruffled Plus, blue Leader of Altai, yellow Iris, and violet-purple Hubbard.

Lilies and hostas

This very successful combination is especially loved by landscape designers. Hostas cover unsightly lily stems with their large leaves. They grow quite slowly and do not cause gardeners problems with weeding, and the large leaves of one bush can cover an entire square meter of area around the lilies. To prevent the soil in the flowerbed from being empty in the spring, because hostas wake up quite late, plant bulbs of snowdrops, muscari or crocuses on it. They do not bloom for long, so the hosta leaves that grow in summer will not disturb them. With a minimum of effort put in at the very beginning, such a flowerbed will look well-groomed and decorative for many years. As they say, plant it and forget it.

Soil preparation and planting in the ground

Before planting, the soil must be dug well and weed roots removed. Iris loves neutral soil, nutritious and loose. You need to choose a place that is sufficiently illuminated; in the shade the plant will not die, but it will bloom sparingly. Partial shade is only suitable for some varieties or in southern countries. Moderate soil moisture will help the plant spread quickly and give the bushes fullness (Figure 5).

Figure 5. It is better to plant a flower in a well-lit area

Irises grow well in breadth and, after some time, this plant will conquer the neighboring area. Therefore, it is good to leave 50-100 cm between irises. Planting them is easy. An individual hole is dug for the rhizome so that the iris can be planted without injuring the root. The plant is planted so that there is 3-5 cm to the surface. And don’t forget to add mulch right away. If you receive dried roots, it is important to leave them in water for 2-4 days.

When should you plant “Siberians”? Or May, or August, September. The soil must be sufficiently warm. And if we are talking about autumn planting, then it is important to have at least one warm month in stock so that the plant has time to adapt and take root before the cold weather.

Flower arrangements

Interesting. When decorating a flower bed, you can use several schemes. Thus, bearded representatives look advantageous against the background of the lawn. You can also plant flowers of several colors. A good combination is single-color varieties planted together with two-tone irises, when one of the tones matches the color of a single-color iris.

The plantings bordering the pond look interesting. In addition, they love moisture. It creates the feeling of a natural corner. Don’t forget about compositions with other plants.

What to plant next to irises? There are a large number of combinations, but there are also compositions that should be avoided:

• u Irises of similar shades do not look attractive in a group planting.
• u Varieties with pale flowers, when planted together with irises of bright colors, get lost and do not fit into the overall picture.
• u Joint plantings of two-color specimens of different varieties look very colorful and not harmonious.
• u Dark-colored irises do not combine with other dark colors.

By excluding such combinations, you can create beautiful flower beds

It is important to take into account the flowering time of the planted plants so that the flower bed pleases the eye throughout the season.

What do irises go with in a flower bed? Joint plantings with lupins or delphinium look beautiful. A good combination with lilies and poppies. At the same time, they do not harm each other, since the root system of these plants penetrates the soil to different levels. It is preferable to plant such compositions in the center of the flowerbed; grow low pansies or marigolds at the edge; forget-me-nots are also suitable.

Roses also go well with them. The latter only benefit from this. The greenery near the rose covers the bare stems of the queen of the garden. When planting irises on the banks of artificial reservoirs, it will be successful to plant them together with a swimsuit; a hosta is also appropriate. Other plants that grow well in moist soils will also be suitable.

Important! You can create amazing compositions, but you shouldn’t combine flowers with similar shades next to each other

Growing Siberian iris

Planting and caring for Siberian iris is not particularly difficult; this frost-resistant and unpretentious plant blooms magnificently in any climatic conditions. But this flower loves light very much, so for its cultivation and abundant flowering you need to choose only sunny, brightly lit areas.

Siberian iris has no special requirements for the quality of the soil on the site. The only conditions are good drainage and a slightly acidic soil level. They grow well on loamy soils, as well as areas with high groundwater levels, unsuitable for growing other ornamental plants.

Planting of Siberian iris in spring is carried out at the end of March or April, in autumn - in September. Before planting, dig up the soil on the site and apply organic (compost or humus) or complex mineral fertilizers.

To grow Siberian iris, it is best to use seedlings purchased from specialized nurseries.

Before planting, inspect them carefully - there should be no traces of rot, fungi or mold on the surface on the cut, and the structure of the seedling should be dense and elastic.

Before planting Siberian iris, you need to prepare seedlings. To do this, cut the roots to 11-13 cm, leaving about 1/3 of the length at the leaves. Under no circumstances should you add lime to the soil before planting iris, since the flower requires slightly acidic soil.

Prepare the planting holes and lower the seedling into them, deepening the root collar by 5-7 cm. Sprinkle the hole with soil, water it generously and mulch. Keep the distance between planting holes 30-40 cm.

Flowers and their neighborhood - choosing candidates: photo

1. Marigold Perfection1 F1. The bush is compact or spreading with a clearly defined main shoot and completely round, densely double inflorescences up to 15 cm in diameter. The bush is powerful, strong, well branched, 35-40 cm high, 30-35 cm wide. Plants look great in borders, flower beds and flower beds , go well with phlox, dahlias, asters, and geraniums. Flowering from late June - early July until frost.

2. BRACHYCOMA is an annual plant 15-25 cm high. The bushes contain numerous inflorescences with flowers 3-3.5 cm in diameter. Reed flowers are white, blue, purple or lilac-pink; tubular (smaller) - blue or almost black. Flowering is abundant, from mid-June to September or October depending on the weather. Loves open sunny places and light and nutritious soil. Watering is necessary only in dry weather; for abundant flowering, fertilizing with full mineral fertilizers is recommended. Planting after return frosts, the distance between plants is 15-20 cm.

3. Cornflower - a two- or annual herbaceous plant with a height of 60 to 80 cm. Flowers of garden forms can be white, pink, purple, red. Unpretentious, but loves sunlight, blooms from June to September. Grow in open ground in a sunny place, the distance between individuals is 20-50 cm. When grown in a group of plants or flower beds, plant on the south side in the first row so that sunlight evenly falls on the leaves. Loves fertile, humus-rich soil with neutral acidity.

4. DIASCIA WARRY - most often an annual crop up to 30 cm high, strongly branches, forming a spherical bush. The flowers are small, up to 2 cm in diameter, pink in color, of different shades, often with a yellow spot in the neck. Tolerates lack of moisture well. Therefore, it is quite suitable for planting in containers, and is widely used to decorate the borders of mixborders, the edges of flower beds and garden paths.

5. NEMEZIA GORITINA - an annual plant 30-40 cm high. The flowers are bright orange, yellow, pink, red or variegated, up to 2.5 cm in diameter. This is one of the best annuals for borders or groups in prefabricated flower beds, as well as for planting in flowerpots and balcony boxes. Flowering continues until the end of September. To provoke a second wave of flowering, cut off faded stems at a height of 15-20 cm from the ground

Recommendations for planting and care

The agricultural technology of Siberian varieties does not differ much from other groups and types of irises.

Choosing a site for a flower garden

The main requirement for the location of the flower garden is a sunny, windless area. Partial shade is also suitable, but flowering will begin later and will not be as lush. The most suitable soil is loose loam with neutral acidity. You should not plant irises in swampy areas with close groundwater, as waterlogging has a bad effect on plant development. Landing dates and rules

Planting of “Siberians” is carried out in May or at the very end of summer, but no later than mid-September. Having decided on the site, the soil needs to be dug up, cleared of debris, and holes prepared of such a size that the roots can be placed freely.

You can put a little compost and sawdust at the bottom of the hole. The seedling should be placed vertically, covered with soil, the soil compacted, watered abundantly and sprinkled with mulch for better rooting. When planting several bushes, the recommended distance is 60-70 cm between them.

Reproduction and transplantation

Flowers reproduce by dividing the rhizome. The procedure is performed no earlier than a month after flowering. To divide the rhizome, the bush is pruned, then dug up and divided into parts so that each has 3-8 fan-shaped shoots. For propagation, only young parts of the root are cut off, the old ones are thrown away. Siberian species can grow in one place for decades, but to prevent them from degenerating, division and replanting are recommended every 6-7 years.

Flowers reproduce by dividing rhizomes

Watering and nutrition

Classic “Siberians” can live without watering, but hybrids still need to be watered. The crop is moistened infrequently, only during dry periods. You also need to cut off wilted buds in a timely manner. Abundant flowering is achieved by fertilizing, which is applied three times per season:

• in spring - humus;
• during the formation of buds - a mineral-organic complex or compost, herbal infusion;
• after flowering - potassium and phosphorus.

Caring for Siberian irises in autumn

There is no need to insulate the flowers, just cover the exposed roots with soil and cover with a small layer of mulch. Shortly before the first frost, dried leaves should be cut to a height of 10 cm.

Setting up a continuous flowering garden

Every owner wants his garden to have flowering plants almost all year round. How can this be achieved?

There are certain rules here:

• The site of the future flower garden is divided into small areas with different seedlings in each of them. Moreover, such a combination is provided so that the flowering time of different plants in each segment does not coincide, i.e. one flower fades and the other blooms.
• To ensure continuity of flowering in the garden from March to November, it is necessary to have enough space on the site to plant a large number of plants. It should be taken into account that, depending on the size of the plants, from 2 to 10 bushes can be planted per square meter of flower bed. Therefore, to solve the problem of creating a continuously blooming oasis, it is necessary to have an area of ​​at least 2-3 square meters.
• A big difficulty when creating a blooming garden is the compatibility of plants and taking into account the various features of caring for them. For example, for good flowering, bulbous plants require fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers, and rhizomatous perennial plants, when there is an excess of nitrogen, grow to the detriment of flowering. In addition, bulbous, early-blooming flowers fade when perennials are just preparing to bloom. And digging up bulbs after they bloom can damage neighboring plants, which will affect their flowering. Therefore, it is preferable to plant bulbous plants that do not require generous fertilization and annual digging.
• Perennial flowering plants do not always have time to bloom at the time when the primroses fade, because they need a certain time to take root on the site. Therefore, it is good to plant annuals between early flowering and perennial plants, which will cover the fading primroses and bloom the flowerbed. Such flower garden rescuers include pansies, forget-me-nots, and daisies.
• It is also necessary to take into account that not all plants harmoniously combine the attractiveness of the flower, the beautiful shape of the leaf and the colorfulness of the greenery. Therefore, it is necessary to correctly arrange various flowers so that some “cover up” the shortcomings of others.

Formation of flower beds

When forming flower beds, make sure that the distance between plantings is at least 50-60 cm. Otherwise, especially when planting different varieties, they may intertwine with each other with roots and leaves. When purchasing planting material, it is worth considering the characteristics indicated in the description of the plant - whether it develops quickly or slowly. This is necessary in order not to miscalculate the sufficient amount of space for the plant to grow wider. Be sure to check how widely the bush spreads to the sides.

If there is enough space for the iris, it can not be replanted for 5-7 years. In a place where the soil is rich in nutrients, the crop lives quietly for 20-30 years without replanting, the only important thing is that there is enough free space for it to grow. Replanting the Siberian iris is necessary only when the plant grows to the sides (loses its decorative effect) and if the nutrients are used up in the soil. When replanting, it is recommended to renew the bush by dividing the rhizome. This process is different from what gardeners do for bearded irises.

Siberian iris is dug up along with nutritious soil to form an earthen lump. Next, the rhizome is divided into several parts and immediately placed in pre-prepared holes. The divisions are cut in such a way that each of them has at least 3-8 leaf rosettes and buds for restoration of growth.

It is possible to dry the planting material, but in this case, before planting, it will need to be soaked in soft melt water. The amount of time depends on how long the cuttings were dried - on average, soaking takes from 2-4 hours to several days (overwintering the plant in a dry state).

Combination with small-flowered

Large glasses of lilies look incredibly attractive and aristocratic against the background of plants with small flowers. Plant yarrow next to them. It comes in different varieties with white or pink inflorescences. Yarrow ptarmika goes delightfully with lilies. Don't like yarrow? Replace it with Iberis perennial. The effect will be the same.

A lily bush looks very decorative (there is a photo of flowers in a flower bed in the article) surrounded by small balls of a tall anafalis pearl or a fluffy bush of small-flowered gypsophila. Twigs of these plants, also called “pearl oysters”, are often added by florists to bouquets with lilies or roses.

Scented alyssum or matthiola will hide the unsightly lower branches of the lily and, mixed with its aroma, will create a divine cocktail of smells. Arrange this flower bed near the window of your house or veranda and in the evenings you will enjoy the fragrance of heaven.

Planning a flower bed

When planning a flowerbed, pay attention to some subtleties:

• All plants' heads follow the sun. And if the view of the flowerbed opens from the north side, then for most of the day the flowers will be turned away from you. In such a flower bed you can plant flowers that do not follow the sun so strongly. These are zinnias, marigolds; of the perennials - lupine, irises, liatris, delphinium, buzulnik Rocket.
• If the flowerbed is located near a fence through which passers-by can see your flowers, decide in advance: you will make the flowerbed for yourself or so that passers-by will also have a spectacular view of your flower garden.
• When sowing, leave sufficient distance between groups of flowers. And let the flowerbed look somewhat empty until the end of June. But in July you won’t have to free less aggressive plants from their spreading counterparts.
• When planning a flower bed, always look at the height of the plants indicated on the seed packaging, and also maintain the indicated distance between plants of the same type. If the sown seedlings have sprouted too often, they can be carefully dug up and moved to another place. Remember that some plants do not tolerate transplantation very well. For example, from annuals - eschscholzia and poppy, from perennials - gypsophila, oriental poppy and, as a rule, all plants with a tap root system.
• If you are planning to collect seeds from flowers from a mixture of colors of a specific color, mark the selected plant in advance, as soon as it begins to bloom, do not put it off until another day! The next weekend, this plant may already bloom and get lost among its colorful comrades.
• Remember that for long-term flowering of both annual and perennial flowers, it is necessary to periodically remove faded flowers, as well as ovaries and fruits. This will help maintain the decorative appearance of the flower garden and re-bloom some plants. It is recommended to cut off perennial flowers such as lupine, Turkish carnation, bells, and delphinium when almost all of their flowers have faded. After such pruning, perennials can please you with repeated flowering.
• Do not sow one type of plant over a large area. When the time comes and this plant finishes flowering, the area will take on an unsightly appearance or become completely bare, which cannot but upset.
• It is curious that there are flowers that close in cloudy weather (Eschscholzia). The tricolor bindweed folds its gramophones in the afternoon. And vice versa, matthiola, inconspicuous during the day, opens up and smells fragrant in the evening and at night.

Already in the summer, write down your plans for the next season. Don’t rely on memory, but write down which plants you liked from your neighbor and you also want to grow them; what they wanted to take from a friend; what they promised to share with their neighbors; what plants need to be divided and replanted in the spring...

Siberian iris: biological features of the plant

Siberian irises, also known as Siberian irises, are a whole group of closely related species, the natural range of which covers vast areas from the foothills of the Alps to Primorye, China and Japan. All of them are distinguished by several interesting features for a gardener:

• tallness and, as a result, effectiveness in any elements of landscape design;
• resistance to lodging, which eliminates the need for tying;
• the leaves are decorative after flowering, which allows them to be left in the flowerbed throughout the growing season;
• unpretentiousness up to complete undemanding to care: they will be surrounded by weeds, but will not give up;
• convincing winter hardiness.

Siberian irises in a flower bed
The usual places for its wild growth are drained floodplains and light birch groves.

Another use of universal trios for flower beds

Combinations of plants, with which you can create the simplest of flower beds, are a universal combination of plants that “works” not only in individual compositions. If you suddenly need to quickly “patch holes” in large flower beds or flower beds, a bald spot suddenly appears between your favorite plants, then you can easily close it using one of three plants in combination. It’s enough to look at your neighbors and you’ll find the masker himself. So, between phloxes and delphiniums a bush of one of the hybrid varieties of helenium can easily fill the void, and between poppies and irises you can plant geranium.

The use of irises in flower beds and pond design

Irises look very stylish and harmonious in flower beds. Other plants stand out organically against their background. The thing is that they are usually created in bluish-blue shades. This range in itself is quite unusual and rare. That is why often these shades are not enough when decorating a flower garden.

Irises look no less stylish when creating monoflowers. In this solution, it is recommended to give the landscape design element an appropriate frame. To do this, you can use backfill using gravel or natural cane.

Irises are often used to decorate ponds

Advice. As an original and harmonious addition to irises in the context of a monoflower garden, it is worth using ornamental grasses.

If there is a pond in the garden, then you should definitely use irises to decorate it. By the way, only this flower can be planted around a stream or pond. This plant goes well with water and does well in moist soil. This solution will look as natural and beautiful as possible.

The attractiveness of irises lies in the fact that they can be used to decorate the pond itself. The main thing is to choose the right variety of this flower. This solution looks non-trivial and very impressive. Accompanying plants are not required to obtain the desired picture.

What you can’t plant with

Lilies should not be planted next to irises. Despite the fact that their flowering times are different, and in appearance these plants seem compatible, such a proximity will have an unfavorable effect on both. The fact is that faded irises should never be watered. Their main root, located on the surface of the earth, will quickly rot, and lilies during the flowering period require regular moistening of the root area of ​​the soil.

The second unfortunate neighbor of the lily is the tulip. These flowers have common diseases

In addition, tulip bulbs invariably attract the attention of mice. Having spoiled the tulips, they will also gnaw the lily bulbs

And they, especially varietal ones, are very expensive and are rarely on sale. If you want a flower bed with lilies to delight you with flowers all summer, starting in spring, plant daffodils or scilla near it.

Experienced gardeners who do not want to part with tulips dig in lily bulbs along with plastic or metal cans. With their walls they block access to them by both mice and other pests.

The jar is cut off at the top and bottom and, using a hammer, is driven into the ground around the bulb. This will subsequently make watering more difficult, but will save valuable specimens from garden vandals.

Rules for caring for and growing in the garden

Siberian irises are one of the most unpretentious decorative flowers for planting in open ground. They can enter the growing season even without any care; with minimal care for planting, it is easy to achieve abundant and long-lasting flowering. The flower is suitable even for novice gardeners, and is also recommended for decorating areas in the northern regions.

Watering

Immediately after planting, plants require regular and abundant watering up to 3-5 times a week. After the irises form powerful rhizomes, the amount of watering should be reduced to 1-2 times a week. The water must be no lower than ambient temperature; before the procedure, it should be settled or rainfall should be used.

Irises tolerate drought well, but it is advisable to regularly check the top layer of soil for the presence of a hard crust, which should be loosened for aeration.

Top dressing

Proper application of fertilizers allows you to enhance flowering and achieve the formation of a large number of flower stalks on one plant. Fertilizing is applied twice per season - in the spring after the snow melts, then during the formation of flower stalks.

Regardless of the period, it is recommended to use only a complex mineral composition for flowering plants, which contains all the necessary elements.

When growing on poor soils, additional fertilizing with organic matter can be done. Most often, a water infusion of mullein or bird droppings is used in a ratio of 1:10.

Loosening, mulching

As a dense crust forms on the top layer of soil, it is advisable to carry out loosening, combining it with weeding. The procedure should be done very carefully, trying not to damage the rhizome with a sharp instrument. You need to loosen the soil to a depth of 3 cm to increase the aeration of the substrate.

Throughout the season, it is recommended to maintain a layer of mulch, which retains moisture on the surface and additionally warms the lower parts of the plant during sudden temperature changes. The mulch layer should not exceed 5 cm; peat or hay is used as the material.

Pinching, pinching, pruning

As the buds fade, they must be removed in a timely manner to enhance the shade and duration of flowering of other flowers. The procedure is best done by hand, since the tool can easily damage the leaves and stem of the plant.

Before the onset of severe cold weather, it is necessary to prune flowers for the winter. To do this, leave up to 10 cm above the ground level, and the rest of the plant should be completely cut off and destroyed. If you did not carry out the procedure in the fall, you can leave it until early spring and trim the irises a few days before the first feeding.

Transfer

Siberian irises are the longest-living among all varieties of this crop. In comfortable conditions and with minimal care, flowers can live in one place for up to 30 years without the need for replanting. The procedure is carried out only in case of mass infection of plants or if it is necessary to move the flowerbed to a new location.

Transplantation is carried out at the end of summer or early spring after flowering has ended and the plant has entered the dormant stage. It is necessary to trim the bush almost at ground level, and then carefully dig out the rhizome.

After this, the irises are transferred along with a lump of earth to a new place in previously prepared holes. If a cold winter is predicted, then during this period they can be left in a cool and dark room in large containers, regularly moistening the soil as it dries.

The best flower arrangements

Over the years of cultivation, flower growers have created truly enchanting compositions with irises that can delight the eye for more than one season. This arsenal continues to be replenished with new ideas from year to year.

Duet with daylilies

Next to irises you can plant daylilies, which also have a superficial root system. Plants do not compete with each other, need the same amount of moisture and require almost the same care. The disadvantage is that the flowering dates of some varieties may coincide, so the flowerbed will be empty for some period of time.

Flowerbeds of irises with roses, peonies

Roses and irises go well together in flower beds. Rose bushes bloom later than iris, but the green leafy stems are an excellent decoration and background for the blooming buds. Experts recommend selecting plants according to color combination.

Peonies also harmonize well with this plant, even though they occupy a dominant position in any composition. Irises are planted around a peony bush. They bloom one after another, so the flowerbed will not look empty and dull.

Border of irises

Dwarf varieties are perfect for decorating borders along the path. To make them more decorative, they are planted among large stones. Medium-sized varieties with purple or white flower colors will also look great. Due to the short flowering period, it is recommended to plant irises together with other plants or create a background of conifers so that the border does not lose its attractiveness throughout the season.

Monoflowers with irises or iridarias

The combination of irises with different flowering periods in one flower bed is called iridarium. If everything is calculated correctly, then bright colors will delight the eye from May to early August. The green grass will be an excellent background for flowers, so you can plant them right in the middle of a green lawn or lawn.

When compiling groups, not only the timing of flowering is taken into account, but also the color of the petals. Varieties are planted at some distance from each other, filling the empty space with pebbles or colored stones

It is not recommended to plant irises in a row; asymmetry is preferred. The iridarium is decorated not only with forged items, but also with a small carved fence. Bergenia greens will help complement the beauty.

Varietal diversity

We offer a description of several of the most beautiful varieties:

1. Kita no Seiza is a Japanese hybrid with large buds of a mauve hue. The petals are double and have a yellow spot at the base. Seiza tolerates partial shade, drought and severe frosts well, but does not tolerate waterlogging.
2. Pink Parfait is a charming lavender flower with lightened edges and a yellow center. Attracts with many double and slightly corrugated petals (about 18 pieces), blooms in June.
3. Kaboom is an unusually bright, densely double variety. The flowers are large (up to 14 cm), consisting of 9-12 wavy petals of deep violet-blue color with a light base. The variety blooms from May to the end of June.
4. Sia Leiter is a bright flower of rich violet-purple color. The petals are wide, slightly wavy; the lower ones have a light spot and a small dark mesh.
5. I.C. Stars is a hardy variety with an average flowering period (June-July). The flowers are six-petaled and eye-catching with their deep cornflower blue color and a contrasting light spot in the middle. The petals are almost not curved, which is why the flower looks like a star.
6. Concord Crush is a large-flowered (up to 15 cm) hybrid with double buds of violet-blue color. The petals are wavy and have a yellowish spot at the base, bordered by a dark mesh.
7. Miss Apple is a bright Dutch hybrid with multi-colored buds. The flower is simple, but due to the wide wavy petals it seems very lush. The color of the lower petals is burgundy-purple with a yellow spot at the base. Inner petals are purple.

Miss Apple - a bright Dutch hybrid

Concord Crush – large-flowered (up to 15 cm) hybrid

I.C. Stars is a hardy variety with medium flowering periods.

Siya Leiter - a bright flower of rich violet-purple color

Kaboom - an unusually bright, densely double variety

Pink Parfait

Kita no Seiza