German iris - KPU Plant DB

Scientific Name:

Iris x germanica

Pronunciation:

EYE-riss

Common Name:

German iris, bearded iris

Family Name:

Iridaceae

Plant Type:

Herbaceous perennial

Key ID Features:

Stiffly upright sword-shaped leaves, often curved, 60-90cm long with a sheathing base; flowers are a large single spike with "beard" or fuzz at the interface of the three upright and three dropping petals.

Habit:

Stiffly upright

Form:

Vase

Texture:

Coarse

Mature Height:

0.7 - 1.3m

Mature Spread:

0.3 - 0.6m

Growth Rate:

Fast

Origin:

Europe, Garden origin (I. pallida x I. variegata)

Hardiness Rating:

Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)

Exposure:

Full sun

Soil/Growing Medium:

Well-drained

Landscape Uses:

Perennial border, Summer interest

Additional Info:

Google

Leaf Morphology:

Glossary

Form:

Simple

Arrangement:

Alternate

Texture/Venation:

Leathery

Surfaces:

Glabrous

Shapes:

Falcate, Linear

Apices:

Acute

Bases:

Sheathing

Margins:

Entire

Inflorescence Type:

Raceme, Floriferous

Flower Morphology:

Flowers perfect

Number Of Petals:

3

Corolla Shape:

Ligulate

Ovary Position:

Inferior

Colour (petals):

White, Blue, Violet

Flower Time at Peak:

Apr, May, Jun

Additional Info:

The outer petal-like sepals (called falls) are broad, bearded, and spread out; three inner petals (called standards) that are typically more upright; the three stigma branches also appear petal-like