Dutch iris

Flowering colour: deep and light blue, purple, yellow and white

Flowering period: June - July

Average plant height: 60 cm

Planting depth to base of bulb: 15 cm

Spacing between bulbs: 10

Type of bulb: bulb

Light requirement: full sun

Landscape uses: beds, borders and as cut flowers

These irises never grew wild in the Netherlands. Instead, they are the products of hybridisation carried out by a Dutch plant breeding firm by the name of Tubergen. Two species playing an important role in the development of these hybrids were I. xiphium and I. lusitanic. For growing them, a rich, well-drained soil is important for success. The bulbs can be left in the ground if desired, but there is a risk of disease. The flowers are 10 cm in diameter, and the flower stalks are very sturdy - a quality which makes them quite suitable for use as cut flowers. The colour assortment is very wide and includes bicoloured varieties.

Most commonly available cultivars:
‘Apollo’: yellow and white
‘Blue Diamond’: blue
‘Blue Magic’: deep purple-blue
‘Blue Ribbon’: (‘Professor Blaauw’): deep blue
‘Casablanca’: white
‘Hildegarde’: light blue
‘Ideal’: sky blue
‘Imperator’: blue and orange
‘Madonna’: white
‘Purple Sensation’: deep purple
‘Royal Yellow’: yellow
‘Saturnus’: white and pale yellow
‘Symphony’: yellow and white
‘Telstar’: deep blue
‘White Bridge’: pure white
‘White van Vliet’: pure white
‘White Wedgwood’: pure white
These bulbs are sometimes sold in groups of mixed colours.

education

Dutch iris