Iris germanica Coffee Trader

Iris germanica 'Coffee Trader' is a tall bearded iris that will delight admirers of soft and rare colouring. Its tall stems bear large flowers with a sweet, sugary fragrance, their ample undulations perfectly showcasing their café au lait colour infused with mauve. This variety blooms at the end of the tall iris season. Superb in sunny flower beds and rockeries.

The 'Coffee Trader' Iris is a deciduous rhizomatous perennial plant that forms upright clumps starting in spring. Like all irises, it belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of many cultivars obtained over the centuries, with debate about their disputed origins revolving around the number of chromosomes of potential ancestors. It should be noted that Bearded Irises have European origins. 'Coffee Trader' is a tall variety, reaching approximately 95-96 cm (37-38in) in height when in bloom, with one flowering stem per rhizome, bearing numerous flower buds. The clump will spread rapidly and indefinitely over time, as the central rhizomes become bare in favour of the outer ones. The foliage consists of long, sword-shaped leaves, glaucous green and highly veined. In April-May the flower stems appear and they bloom in May-June, earlier or later depending on the climate. The flowers open from the top down towards the lower branches. Each flower is composed of 3 upright petals in café au lait washed with mauve along the midrib, and 3 sepals of the same colour widely infused with mauve to mauve purple under very vivid mandarin orange beards. The unique colour of this plant is, as always with Bearded Iris, enhanced by the silky and iridescent texture of the petals and sepals. This variety has a light fragrance reminiscent of biscuits.

Obtained by Barry Blyth, 2004.

To accompany your irises, choose plants based on their similar needs (sunlight, soil), a growth habit that is "respectful" of irises (i.e. non-competitive plants which are shorter, have light foliage), and how they complement each other visually (appearance, flowering period). For example, Gauras won't create shade, and will keep the bed attractive all summer after your irises have finished flowering. Like irises, California Poppies (Eschscholzia) will be content with dry and poor soil. Perennial geraniums, sage, and Libertia also pair well with irises. Slopes can be stabilised with dense planting of vigorous old varieties that can remain in place and require little care. The vegetable garden can accommodate a few clumps of irises, as the place dedicated to growing cut flowers.