Beautiful irises adapt well to Utah climate

For those who are looking for just the right plants for their gardens, look no further than iris.

Perhaps no other plant has such beautiful flowers yet is so well-adapted to Utah's climate. These plants, sometimes called "poor man's orchids," are now in full bloom.

This diverse group of plants has more than 200 species and thousands of varieties, including one native type. From tiny bulbous iris to the tall bearded iris, they come in all sizes, shapes, colors and bloom times.

Florence Wheat, a local iris fancier and an officer in the Utah Iris Society, collects and grows many types of irises. Her introduction to these flowers came soon after she and her husband, Bill, moved to their home in the East Millcreek area.

"My first experience growing irises was in 1965, when my mother-in-law, Elizabeth, gave me some rhizomes from her garden. I thought they were beautiful but didn't concern myself with knowing their names until I became a serious collector 20 years later," Wheat said.

Iris blossoms have three upright petals (standards) and three hanging sepals (falls). Bearded irises get their name from the fuzzy fringe appendages located at the base of the falls. Some varieties have standards and falls of the same color, while other varieties have standards of one color and falls of another.

Irises come in almost every color, including some that are almost black. Tall bearded irises, the most commonly grown in Utah, are hardy, herbaceous perennials that thrive in all areas of the state.

Originally, bearded irises were called German Iris. They are hybridized so extensively that they are no longer assigned to specific species but are separated by height into dwarf, intermediate and tall varieties.

Standard dwarf bearded irises grow 8-15 inches tall; intermediate bearded irises are 16-27 inches tall; and tall bearded irises are usually more than 3 feet tall. Like all collectors, Wheat said searching for the right varieties is an ongoing process.

"After I had tall bearded irises for a while, I wanted to try growing other types. I now have miniature dwarf bearded irises that are around eight inches and look good in rock gardens. I also have many standard dwarf bearded irises that are 10 to 12 inches tall. Intermediate bearded grow about 15 inches, and both of these types bloom in April," she said.

"I also grow Arilbred irises, which have their origins in the Middle East. I have a few Siberian irises and Louisiana irises. There are miniature tall bearded irises that flower arrangers really like to work with."

By carefully selecting the types and utilizing different microclimates, irises can grace a garden for many weeks.