Iris hollandica Frans Hals - Dutch Iris

Iris x hollandica 'Frans Hals' is a Dutch iris that doesn't go unnoticed in the garden, whether in a pot or in a vase. This bulbous iris produces, in late spring, for 2 to 3 weeks, bicoloured flowers with beautiful vivacity, in purple and golden yellow. Very stylish and colourful, the stylized flowers of the Dutch Iris stand out for their elegance in the garden, as well as in floral arrangements. They are hardy bulbs that are easy to grow in full sun, in fertile and well-drained soil. The bulb, when dormant, is indifferent to drought. 

Dutch irises, or bulbous irises, have an underground storage organ in the form of a bulb, not a rhizome like their famous cousins, Iris germanica, or Bearded Iris. Belonging to the same botanical family as the latter, the Iridaceae family, they also differ by the absence of "beards", those pretty little fluffy and colourful tongues found on the drooping sepals of bearded irises. The first Dutch Iris x hollandica never grew in the wild on Dutch soil. They are the result of cross-breeding between two main botanical species: Iris filifolia, sometimes confused with Iris xyphium which resembles it, both native to Spain and North Africa, and Iris tingitana, from Tangier and Northern Morocco. The genealogy of Dutch hybrids is sometimes confusing, but the result is always remarkable. Their flowers, a bit underused in the garden, are highly appreciated in floristry. 

The 'Frans Hals' Dutch Iris forms over time a tall and very narrow clump of 60cm (24in) when in bloom, this perennial spreads without theoretical limits through the production of bulblets. This cultivar blooms in spring, usually in May-June (much earlier in the south), for 2 to 3 weeks, on thin but sturdy stems. Its solitary or paired flowers on the stems, 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in) in diameter, are relatively slender compared to those of the Iris germanica, but of undeniable elegance. Each flower is composed of 3 upright and narrowed petals in bright purple. Beneath this trio are 3 almost horizontal petals, closely connected to the dentate petaloid styles, arranged in a staggered pattern. Broader, they are spatulate and of a dazzling yellow. Each flower can last 5 to 7 days, even in a vase. The bulb is round, 2 to 3cm (1in) wide, covered with a fibrous tunic of pinkish beige. It produces a few linear, thin and leathery leaves, somewhat resembling those of a leek or a grass, with a slightly glaucous green colour, often slightly striated and folded in half towards the ground. They sometimes appear in autumn, persist to varying degrees depending on the severity of winter, and dry up in summer, during the dormant period. 

Overlooked by gardeners in favor of Bearded Irises, Dutch Irises are nevertheless easy to grow in fertile and light soil. With undeniable elegance, they are indifferent to wild weeds that struggle to infiltrate their very vertical clumps. Plant them in groups of 10 to 20 bulbs of the same variety: they will come back year after year to offer you even more refined and cheerful flowers. They are also stunning when planted among perennials such as peonies and daylilies, which will conceal their absence in summer. Their Mediterranean origins make them highly adaptable to summer drought. Finally, pick their flowers to make bouquets with the first roses, arums, lilies, or even late tulips. All irises need a sunny exposure to flower well. Provide them with at least half a day of full sun.