Iris germanica Master Plan

Iris germanica Master Plan is a bearded Iris of beautiful stature that produces large delicately undulated flowers. It is a variety qualified as plicata, meaning that its flower has petals with a light background, speckled or sprinkled with another colour. In Master Plan, the upright petals are viola pink, slightly infused with cream at the base, and the sepals are creamy white, edged with purple pink, all enhanced by brick red to orange beards. The flowers have a pronounced sweet fragrance. An excellent mid-season variety, with broad and abundant foliage.

The 'Master Plan' Iris is a rhizomatous perennial plant that develops in spring in elegantly upright clumps, with foliage disappearing in winter. 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. They are plants that thrive in calcareous soils, eager for sun, and their rhizomes must 'cook' in summer in order to flower. A minimum of 6 hours of sun per day is generally required.

The 'Master Plan' iris will reach a height of 89-90 cm (35in) when in bloom, it is a tall variety, sensitive to rain and wind. The clump will spread indefinitely over time, with the central rhizomes thinning out in favour of the outer ones. The foliage consists of long and wide sword-shaped leaves, a slightly glaucous green, with parallel veins. In April-May floral stems appear that will produce large, well-formed flowers in May-June, with undulated edges, opening from the top down towards the lower branches. This variety blooms in the middle of the iris season, with well-branched floral stems, each capable of carrying up to 5 fully bloomed flowers at the same time. The colour of this plant is, as always with Bearded Irises, enhanced by the thick and iridescent texture of the floral parts. The fragrance of the flowers is described as sweet.

Bred by Keith Keppel (USA), 1995

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. California Poppies and Love-in-a-Mist, like irises, will tolerate dry soil in summer. Perennial geraniums, salvias, and Libertias also accompany irises very well. Slopes and terraced edges can be stabilised by dense plantings of old diploid 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, e.g. intermediate ones that are less likely than tall ones to be flattened by wind and rain.

The vegetable garden can be adorned with a few clumps or borders of irises, as the classic place for growing cut flowers.