The word "iris" is translated from Greek as "rainbow". This is the name received by perennial beautifully flowering plants for a variety of shades. In the people they are affectionately called "males" or "killer whales" because of the shape of the leaves. They resemble a braid. And also because of the shape of the flowers, which look like a beard and a comb of a rooster.
In addition to a beautiful appearance, irises have medicinal properties. Today, there are about three hundred varieties of these magnificent flowers. But the most popular among gardeners are German irises. They are widespread in our country. The type species of the genus is German Iris. Varieties grown today in summer cottages can be called hybrids (Iris hybrida hort). Today there are about 35 thousand.
German iris
This variety is extremely rare in vivo. It was first described in the 19th century in Germany. 3.T. was later found. Artyushenko in Ukraine: in the Transcarpathian region, in the vicinity of the city of Vinogradovo. Germanic purple iris has widely xiphoid bluish leaves. Their length reaches 50 centimeters, width - 30 mm. The peduncle of the culture is branched. May be as long as leaves, or longer. The flowers are large, painted in bluish-purple or purple. They have a pleasant strong aroma, light blue or yellow beard. The box is slightly elongated, oval. Seeds are small, wrinkled.
Bearded Irises: Description
A large group of varieties and species of bearded irises belongs to a separate complex and interesting group. Their rhizome has clearly visible annual thickenings - links. They can be quite thick and completely bare. Germanic bearded irises are distinguished by large brightly colored flowers. They have numerous hairs on the perianth of the beard.
German Iris: varieties
These are water-loving, frost-resistant, easy-care flowers. They are very popular with gardeners around the world. Refined and elegant irises can decorate any site. They look great on flower beds and natural landscapes, and grow quite quickly. The benefits of irises are as follows:
- Reasonable price of bulbs.
- Simple agricultural technology.
- The original appearance.
- Compatibility with other garden plants.
Sultan's palace
This German iris is considered one of the most spectacular in its family. The delightful flower has bloody-scarlet upper petals, collected in an elegant dome, and dark red, with a burgundy, almost black, edging on the edge. The beard has a rich yellow tint.
The graceful form of Sultan's Palace iris, as well as its exquisite delicate aroma, delight gardeners. This species blooms in May for two to three weeks. Gorgeous dark red buds bloom on a powerful stem. Its height reaches 60 cm. This species is often used to decorate flower beds.
English cottage
And in the next photo you can see another German iris. It was created with German pedantry in the style of English classics. An impeccable set of lines of this perfection has formed a truly luxurious bud. Dazzling snow-white large flowers cover lavender veins with bright yellow tongues from dense villi (in the center) at the base of the petal. The diameter of this miracle, when fully disclosed, reaches fifteen centimeters. The stems are flexible and durable. They can grow up to one meter in length. The leaves are light green, collected in a fan-shaped bunch. Flowering begins in May. It was during this period that the entire garden was filled with a delicious aroma.
Another important advantage of this plant is that the iris Germanic English Cottage belongs to the repair plants. Its magnificent flowering can also be enjoyed at the end of the summer season.
Crinoline
And this is probably the highest German iris. An unusually beautiful herbaceous perennial can grow in your garden up to 120 cm. Its leaves are xiphoid, covered with a light waxy coating. They gather in fan-shaped bunches. It is noteworthy that the flowers remain decorative throughout the summer. They appear on a branched sturdy stalk. The buds are painted a dark burgundy color with a white speck on the lower petals. A bright yellow beard is covered with thick hairs. This iris is very stable in cutting Germanic. He needs minimal care (we will talk about this later). The plant prefers well-lit areas protected from wind and moisture congestion.
German Iris: planting and care
If you want to breed this crop, you first need to choose a place to plant. This should be a site well lit in the morning. Most suitable slope or elevation, allowing melt away freely. German Iris, the landing of which is not difficult, loves good drainage. In addition, all varieties of this crop need nutrient-rich soil. Therefore, if on the site it does not meet such requirements, it must be fertilized.
Before planting (in spring), add compost or greasy garden soil to the soil, feed it with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. If the acidity of the soil is increased, it is necessary to add wood ash or dolomite flour to it. Loamy soils require dilution with peat and sand, and sandy soils with clay. To disinfect the soil before planting, treat it with fungicide and herbicides. And one more important detail: when planting German iris, do not fertilize the earth with manure.
We process planting material
In spring, planting material needs to be treated with growth stimulants (Zircon, Ecogel). In addition, it is necessary to shorten too long roots using a sharp garden knife. The same applies to rotted areas. The roots should be disinfected. To do this, it is enough to hold them for about twenty minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Landing
To plant German iris in open ground, you need to make a small hole. In the center, a mound of sand should be poured onto which rhizomes are carefully laid out in a horizontal position. After that, they must be spread out and covered with soil so that the upper sections remain above the ground. Now the plant needs to be watered well. If you bury the rhizome completely, it can rot. The distance between plants should be at least fifty centimeters.
Iris Care
Many summer residents and experienced flower growers breed German iris on their plots. Landing and caring for it is quite simple. Therefore, observing simple rules, a beginner will be able to cope with this work. The main feature of this culture is the love of heat and light. If you have well prepared the site for planting, then the irises will have enough nutrients laid in the ground. If the soil is depleted, at the growth stage, you can feed the plant with phosphorus-potassium compounds, which are applied under the root. During flowering, this is not recommended.
Some more tips
Irises are in urgent need of abundant irrigation, especially during budding. At this time, it is recommended to water them as soon as the soil at the roots dries. Weeding is also very important for these plants. Their root system is close to the surface. Therefore, in order not to injure her, weeds should be removed manually. In addition, two to three times per season it is necessary to loosen the soil.
After the flowering of the bud, it is necessary to cut off the peduncles (if you are not going to plant the plant). Cut the yellowed leaves, making them semicircular. When the foliage dries completely, remove it. In late autumn (before frost), sprinkle bare roots with soil and mulch the area with sand or peat by about ten centimeters. In very cold winters, the plant is covered with spruce branches or dry leaves.