Iris germanica Grand Canari - Bearded Iris

Iris germanica 'Grand Canari' is a large variety of garden iris with large, sun-like and original flowers that can be noticed from afar in the garden. This plant is tall; it produces stems each carrying 10 buds. They open into large flowers of pure and bright yellow, animated by an orange beard that extends onto sepals of a beautiful white with a feathery spur and a white midrib. An iris with a beautiful presence that beautifully concludes the tall iris season!

The 'Grand Canari' Iris is a perennial, rhizomatous and deciduous plant, with an upright clumping habit. It belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of the many cultivars obtained over the centuries, whose controversial origins revolve around the number of chromosomes of potential ancestors. It is worth noting that bearded iris have European origins. 'Grand Canari' is a very tall variety, reaching a height of 1.05m (3ft) when in bloom, with a stem ramified into 4 branches via rhizomes, each carrying several flower buds. The clump will spread very quickly and indefinitely over time, as the central rhizomes become bare in favour of the outer ones. The foliage consists of long, glaucous and heavily veined sword-shaped leaves. In April-May floral stems appear, and at the end of May or beginning of June they bear flowers that bloom progressively from the top to the lower branches. The striking colour of the flower is, as always with Iris germanica, enhanced by the silky texture of the petals and sepals. The extended beards, characterised by a long upright spur, define a horticultural category of bearded irises called 'Space Age'.

Obtained by Cayeux, 2007.

To accompany the irises, choose plants that thrive in sunny and dry soil conditions, preferably low-growing or with light foliage to avoid shading them, and pay attention to how they complement each other (appearance, flowering period). Gaura, for example, meets these three criteria, and its later flowering will keep the flower bed attractive all through summer. Eschscholzias will be satisfied with dry and poor soil, just like the irises. Geraniums, salvias and Libertias also accompany them very well. Slopes and terraced edges will be stabilised by dense plantings of old, vigorous varieties that can remain in place and require little care. If the goal is more decorative and access for maintenance is possible you can choose more modern varieties, such as intermediates, which are often very floriferous and less likely to lean over in the wind or rain compared to the tall varieties.

Use tall irises at the base of a very sunny wall, protected from the wind. You can plant them in the background behind shorter and earlier varieties.

In a border: the entire range can be used, from dwarf early varieties to tall irises flowering in May, including intermediate varieties (in size and earliness) and border irises, which are medium-sized but flower with the tall ones. Tall irises with heavy flowers, exposed to the wind, are likely to lie down if not staked.

Edge of a flowerbed: border irises but also dwarf irises.

Mixed border: the entire range of sizes can be used, in the front or back, depending on the size of neighboring plants.

Iris flowerbed/iris garden: A judicious choice allows for two and a half months of flowers in spring. Choosing "perpetual" irises offers some additional flowers at the end of summer or autumn.

The vegetable garden can accommodate a few clumps of irises given it is also a place dedicated to growing cut flowers.