Iris germanica Heure Bleue - Bearded Iris

The Iris germanica 'Heure Bleue' is a Bearded Iris with vigorous growth, undoubtedly ranking among the most beautiful monochromatic varieties. It produces very large flowers of an absolutely superb sky-blue colour in spring, borne on long flowering stems that tower above the clump of fine green leaves. Mirroring the blue from the sky, the blooms attracts all eyes in the garden from mid-May and into June. This large, easy to grow perennial in neutral to chalky, well-drained soil, will happily mix with other ornamental plants, which will extend or frame its flowering period limited to about three weeks.

The Iris is the flagship genus of the Iridaceae family which owes its name to it. It coexists with dozens of other ornamental genera, plants with rootstocks or bulbs, hardy or exotic, some very popular, like Gladioli, others known mainly to collectors, like the charming little Tritonia. Already rich in botanical species (at least 210 are listed), the  Iris genus comprises an incredible number of horticultural varieties, so much does this plant inspire breeders and specialist nurseries. The Iris germanica, or German Iris, is probably the result of the hybridisation of different wild species. It is now the most widely grown in gardens, hence its other name, Bearded Iris.

The Iris 'Heure Bleue' is a creation of the French breeder Cayeux obtained from another of its varieties, the 'Ouragan', launched in 1995 and awarded a bronze medal at the international competition in Moscow in 2001. This was crossed with the 'Yaquina Blue', a tall Iris with large medium-blue flowers, brought to market in 1992 by the American grower Schreiners, and awarded numerous horticultural distinctions between 1994 and 2001. With such parentage, it is not surprising that the 'Heure Bleue' was declared the best blue variety at the 2005 Florence International Iris Competition. This Iris forms a clump formed of long, sword-shaped leaves of a slightly glaucous green which develop from each rootstock, often forming a sort of fan, with imbricate leaf bases. In spring, long flowering stems rise towards the sky bearing several flower buds which, from mid-May, open to form very large flowers of 12 cm in diameter or more. The three upright petals and the three sepals that form the base of the corolla are a homogeneous colour, an azure blue, which can vary from sky blue to medium blue depending on the specimen. The standard Bearded Iris edges of the floral parts are undulate, and the beards, barely visible on this variety due to their pale blue colour, do not contrast much with the sepals that bear them.  The flowering slightly fragrant and is relatively long compared to other varieties, often exceeding three weeks provided that rain and wind do not spoil the display. Reaching up to 90 cm high, the flowering stems are indeed sensitive to the whims of the weather.

The Iris germanica 'Heure Bleue' will appeal to lovers of distinction and refinement. Less spectacular than bicolour Bearded Irises, this variety displays a beautiful colour that will pair well with yellow or white flowers. Even though it is capable of flowering for more than three weeks in a row, this iris will benefit from being planted in a mixed border with plants that flower at different times as it must be admitted that spent iris flowers lose a great deal of their splendour... Plant in the background a Van Houtte's Spirea, which in May is covered in a profusion of white flowers and will perfectly showcase your blue Iris. For the start of the season, bet on a Bergenia 'Dragonfly Sakura', a low-growing perennial that you can plant at the edge of your border. Its pink flowering blooms from March until April, and its shiny evergreen foliage turns purple in winter, tending towards black in cold climates. To take over in summer, nothing beats a Common Yarrow which comes in different heights and flower colours, and among bushes, a Lagerstroemia or Crape Myrtle is also a must-have, with white, pink, red, or purple flowers and whose dark green foliage in common varieties can turn purple in modern ones, and even tend towards black.