Irises are simply outrageous in bloom even though they’re a royal pain to maintain the rest of the summer. Flamboyant and unapologetic, they pose like Spanish dancers ready to do the flamenco. White iris remind me of Degas’s ballerina paintings. Siberian iris are less showy but no less elegant, despite their fleeting presence.
Despite the hybrids looking rather artificial, iris are useful in the garden because they bridge the bloom gap between spring and summer so well. Take note of the exquisite veining in some of the varieties below.
