Iris germanica Écharpe Bleue - Tall bearded iris

Iris 'Écharpe Bleue' is a bicolour variety that combines striking patterns with fragrance. This tall bearded Iris has a captivating, contemporary design: pure white petals, faintly tinged with blue, contrast with broad sepals edged in deep navy, reminiscent of the Iris ‘Ruban Bleu’. This compact cultivar provides brilliant mid to late-season flowering, extending the vibrancy of spring borders. Its delicate floral scent also makes it a charming cut flower.

Iris germanica ‘Écharpe Bleue’ is a rhizomatous perennial from the Iridaceae family. The original Iris x germanica results from cross-breeding between Iris pallida and I. variegata, native to the alpine regions of Southern Europe and the grassy zones of Central Europe, respectively. Their naturalised descendants thrive in dry, open terrains on calcareous substrates across many temperate regions. 'Écharpe Bleue’ has a compact habit, with flowering stems reaching around 80 cm in height. The plant forms an upright clump of sword-shaped, rigid, slightly arched, smooth, glaucous green leaves, growing up to 50 cm long and 3 to 4 cm wide. The foliage is deciduous, drying in autumn and reappearing in spring. The sturdy, well-proportioned flower stems bear between 6 and 9 flower buds, arranged in tiers on one or two branches, depending on the plant's vigour. The 12 to 14 cm diameter flowers bloom between May and June, depending on the climate. They feature three upright, pure white tepals, faintly washed with blue, and three broad, trailing tepals edged in deep navy blue. The beards are brick-red to dark red, creating a striking contrast. The moderately undulate flowers have a soft, slightly sweet fragrance, noticeable up close. The root system consists of shallow, fleshy, horizontal rhizomes, spreading laterally over time to form dense clumps. The plant regularly produces offsets from these rhizomes.

Bred by Cayeux, 2024.

Iris 'Écharpe Bleue' is an easy and hardy plant, but dislikes competition and shade. Its sturdy flower stems are less wind-prone than taller varieties, making it stand out in large mixed borders. Pair it with airy perennials like gaura and cottage-garden annuals such as love-in-a-mist or poppies. It also complements the deep violet Iris 'Profond Soupir' and Iris 'Frison-Roche', creating a refreshing blend of whites and blues. Clumps of Alchemilla mollis or light-leaved heucheras soften the display and enhance its colours. A few clumps or borders of iris also brighten vegetable gardens, ideal for growing cut flowers.