Iris Wabash - Tall Bearded Iris

Iris 'Wabash' belongs to the category of historic Grand Garden Irises, created by pioneers in hybridization. It still captivates with its vigour and elegant flowers, carried by a tall floral stem. Its two-tone flower, with simple lines, truly shines in the garden. It combines pure white upright petals with intense violet sepals finely edged in white. This beautiful, tall variety should be sheltered from wind and bad weather that could cause its long floral stems to bend. This variety has been awarded multiple times for its exceptional qualities.

Iris 'Wabash' is a rhizomatous, deciduous perennial plant that develops elegantly upright clumps. It belongs to the family of Iridaceae. 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. They thrive in chalky soils and crave sunlight, with their rhizomes needing to 'cook' in summer in order to bloom. A minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day is generally required.

'Wabash' will reach a height of 88-90 cm (35in) when in bloom, with several buds per stem. The clump will spread indefinitely over time, with the centre rhizomes thinning out in favour of the outer rhizomes. The foliage consists of long and wide sword-shaped, slightly glaucous green leaves, crossed by parallel veins. It is a mid-season variety: floral stems appear in April that bloom from the top towards the lower branches around mid-May. The vibrant colour is magnified by the silky and iridescent texture of the floral parts. At the base of each sepal, towards the heart of the flower ther is a small yellow beard. The heart of the flower exhales a pleasant sweet anise scent.

Obtained by Williamson, 1936.

Awards: HM (Honorable Mention) in 1937 - Award of Merit in 1938 - Dykes Medal in 1940

To accompany irises, choose plants based on their needs (exposure, soil...), growth (low-growing or light-foliaged plants), decorative appearance and flowering time. For example, Gaura will cast little shade on irises and will keep the faded iris bed attractive throughout summer. Eschscholzia plants will be content with dry soil in summer, just like irises. Geraniums, salvias, and Libertias also go very well with irises. Slopes and terraced edges can be stabilised by a dense planting of old diploid varieties that require little care. If the goal is more decorative and access for maintenance is possible, more modern varieties can be chosen, such as intermediates that are less likely to be laid flat by wind and rain.

At the base of a wall, the relative shelter from the wind allows the use of tall irises. Of course, shorter and early-blooming varieties can be planted in the foreground.

Path border: the realm of early dwarf irises under 40 cm (16in), up to intermediates (in size and earliness) and border irises, medium-sized but flowering with the tall ones.

Border of a flowerbed: the domain of border irises and dwarfs, depending on the circumstances.

Mixed border: the entire range of sizes can be used, chosen according to the space (foreground, background) and the size of the surrounding plants.

Iris bed, iris garden: the paradise of the iris enthusiast where the choice of varieties reflects taste. The use of all bearded iris varieties allows for two and a half months of flowers in spring. The choice of perpetual irises offers some additional flowers in late summer or autumn, depending on the climate.

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