In Greek mythology, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow, a messenger who brought an arc of color to the sky. In our gardens, the blooms of the iris bring a rainbow of color to our landscape. It doesn't matter if you live on a country road or on a downtown street, irises catch your eye when they bloom. For most of Tennessee and the mid-South, the show begins in April and persists through May with other irises blooming later in the season. By mid-April, the largest flush of bearded iris flowers are what is taking center stage in most gardens.
There are 200-plus species of irises, including some North American natives. Species are separated into two main groups: rhizomatous and bulbous. Bulbous irises form a more typical bulb and include Persian, reticulate and many dwarf irises. Rhizomes are underground stems that grow horizontally and are used as storage for the plant. Bearded iris falls into this group, as do both the Japanese and Siberian iris.
The iris (genus Iridaceae) is the official state cultivated flower of Tennessee. The act naming the iris as the state flower did not name a particular color. However, by common acceptance, the purple iris is considered the state cultivated flower, though irises come in several colors.
If you love and enjoy irises, you may consider having a secession of different species bloom in your garden. This could begin with iris reticulata, a small bulbus iris, followed by a dwarf bearded iris like Little Sighs. Next, add classic tall bearded irises to your garden. There are many to choose from; Team Player and Gypsy Lord are two of my favorites. Follow this up with a Siberian iris like Caesar's Brother and iris tectorum, the Japanese roof iris.
If you like irises, why not get involved with one of the many iris societies in Tennessee, such as the Southeast Tennessee Iris Society (email rhodojim@att.net for more information). These can be great ways to meet new gardening friends, share knowledge and gain insight into gardening in your specific region of the state. There are iris societies in neighboring states as well.
To get more information, simply search the internet for any of these iris gardening groups. Or visit the website of the American Iris Society at www.irises.org.
The UT Gardens includes plant collections located in Knoxville, Jackson and Crossville. Designated as the official botanical garden for the state of Tennessee, the collections are part of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. The gardens' mission is to foster appreciation, education and stewardship of plants through garden displays, educational programs and research trials. The gardens are open during all seasons and free to the public. For more information, visit ag.tennessee.edu/utg.
Contact Andy Pulte, UT Department of Plant Sciences, at 865-974-8820 or apulte@utk.edu.