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Iris germanica Amateur - Dwarf bearded Iris

Iris germanica Amateur
Bearded Iris

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The flowers of this Lilliput iris are light blue, slightly darker near the white beards touched with mandarin. Its sturdy stems (39 cm) are very visible in borders and suited to windy conditions. Its flowering, slightly earlier than that of tall irises, occurs in April or May depending on the climate. A floriferous variety, fresh and bright!
Height at maturity
39 cm
Spread at maturity
25 cm
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -15°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil, Moist soil
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Best planting time August to September
Recommended planting time February to March, July to October
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Flowering time April to May
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Description

Iris ‘Amateur’ is a Lilliput garden iris with light blue flowers, fresh and perky, enhanced by tangerine beards. At 39 cm tall, it is tall for an iris of its category, but remains well-suited to small spaces. In the garden, it forms a very floriferous clump from April to May.

This iris belongs to the Iridaceae family and to the group of standard dwarf bearded irises, noted as SDB in the American classification. These irises are sold in France under the name Lilliput iris. This category includes irises measuring 20 to 41 cm tall. Lilliput irises flower early in the bearded iris season, after miniature irises and before intermediate bearded irises.
The bearded iris is a perennial with a rootstock whose foliage persists more or less in winter.
In ‘Amateur’, the flowers consist of 3 upright light blue petals, traversed by slightly darker veins, and 3 trailing light blue sepals veined with deeper blue. A reddish-purple spot occupies the centre of the sepals and fades towards the edge. The veins become prune-coloured in the throat. The beards are orange in the throat, white at the base, tipped with tangerine in the centre, then white at the tip. This variety also offers a light musky fragrance.

‘Amateur’ is an American breeding by Paul Black, registered in 2011 under seedling number P142A and introduced the same year by Mid-America Garden. It comes from the cross-breeding ‘Canadian Kisses’ × ‘Fires Of Fiji’.

Iris ‘Amateur’ is planted in rock gardens, in borders, at the front of raised beds or on slopes. It combines well with light, yellow or pale blue flowers. To accompany it, choose for example Iris pumila ‘Bright White’, white with gold-yellow tipped beard, the Muscari armeniacum ‘Valerie Finnis’, pale blue, the tulipa tarda, a botanical tulip, yellow and white, and the Allium oreophilum, light lilac-pink.

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Garden iris, bearded iris: planting, care
Family sheet
by Virginie T. 13 min.
Garden iris, bearded iris: planting, care
Read article

Flowering

Flower colour blue
Flowering time April to May
Inflorescence Cluster
Fragrance slightly scented light musky scent

Foliage

Foliage persistence Semi-evergreen
Foliage colour medium green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 39 cm
Spread at maturity 25 cm
Growth rate normal

Botanical data

Genus

Iris

Species

germanica

Cultivar

Amateur

Family

Iridaceae

Other common names

Bearded Iris

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference26087

Planting and care

The Iris 'Amateur' can be planted from July to October as a rootstock, or in spring and autumn for potted young plants, outside of frost. Place it in full sun, in soil loosened to a depth of 20 cm, with gravel if the soil retains water in winter. Position the rootstock almost at the surface, with roots spread out in the soil; its top should remain visible. Water well at planting time, then only during dry periods in the first few weeks. A light application of mature compost around the clump is sufficient in poor soil. Divide the clumps every three or four years, in summer, when flowering decreases at the centre of the stump.

Planting period

Best planting time August to September
Recommended planting time February to March, July to October

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Edge of border, Container, Slope
Hardiness Hardy down to -15°C (USDA zone 7b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 10 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous
Soil type Chalky (poor, alkaline and well-drained), Silty-loamy (rich and light), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil Well-drained soil

Care

Pruning instructions Cut the flower stems at the end of flowering.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time May
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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