Iris Pumpkin Cheesecake - Bearded Iris

Iris 'Pumpkin Cheesecake' is a variety of iris that is just slightly taller than a border iris, with many flowers with wide, wavy, well-formed, bicoloured white petals soft orange sepals slightly lighter at the edges. The overall effect is enhanced by mandarin-coloured beards. Its slightly less wind-sensitive stems will have a great impact in any setting, especially paired with white or blue blooms. 

Iris 'Pumpkin Cheesecake' is a rhizomatous, deciduous perennial that forms upright clumps and belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of the many cultivars obtained over centuries, whose controversial origin is debated around the number of chromosomes of potential ancestors. It should be noted that Garden irises have European origins.

Iris 'Pumpkin Cheesecake' will not exceed 76 cm high in bloom. Each rhizome produces a branched stem bearing 7 flower buds. The clump will spread rapidly, with no theoretical limit over time, as the centre rhizomes become bare in favour of the outer rhizomes. The foliage consists of long, undulate, glaucous green leaves with strong veins. Floral stems appear in April and flower in May, the middle of the season for tall irises, blooming from the top down. As always with Garden irises, the colour is magnified by the thick, iridescent texture of the petals and sepals. 

Breeding O. David Niswonger, 1995 - Awards: Honorable Mention in 1997, Award of Merit in 2000

To accompany irises, choose plants based on their needs (exposure, soil...), growth (low plants or light foliage, non-competitive plants), decorative appearance and flowering period. For example, Gauras will cast little shade on the irises and keep the faded iris bed attractive all summer long. California Poppies and Love-in-a-Mist will tolerate the same dry soil as the iris in summer. Perennial geraniums, salvias, and Libertias also complement irises very well. Slopes, the base of small trees with light foliage, and terraced edges can be stabilised by dense plantings of old varieties that require little care. If the goal is more decorative and access for care is possible, you can choose more modern varieties which are less likely than tall irises to be flattened by wind and rain.

The vegetable garden can be adorned with a few clumps or borders of irises for cut flowers.