Iris germanica Blueberry Bliss - Bearded Iris

Iris germanica 'Blueberry Bliss', also known as the garden iris, offers huge navy blue to 'Navy' blue corollas in April-May, quite early in the season, completely solid, including the beard. Petals and sepals are slightly undulated. The stem is solid and branching, allowing for a long flowering period. Multiple award-winning variety. Perfect in flower beds, borders, and on slopes.

The 'Blueberry Bliss' Iris is a perennial rhizomatous and deciduous plant, with an upright clump-forming habit starting from spring. It belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of the many cultivars obtained over centuries, with a controversial origin that revolves around the number of chromosomes of potential ancestors. It should be noted that Garden Irises have European origins. 'Blueberry Bliss' is a large variety, reaching a height of 1m (3ft) when in bloom, with numerous buds, and the clump spreading indefinitely over time, with the central rhizomes becoming bare in favour of the outer rhizomes. It has an elegant upright habit in a dense clump. The foliage consists of long sword-shaped, glaucous green and highly veined leaves. In April, floral stems appear, each with 3 or 4 branches, each of which will produce 8 to 10 buds. Huge flowers, 16cm (6in) tall and 10cm (4in) wide, open from the top towards the lower branches. As always with Garden Irises, the colour of this plant is enhanced by the texture of the petals and sepals. It is worth noting that the flowers are also highly fragrant.

Obtained Schreiner 2004.

To accompany the irises, plants should be chosen according to their needs (exposure, soil...), their "respectful" growth habit towards irises (low-growing or light-foliaged plants), and their decorative complementarity (appearance, flowering time). For example, Gaura will cast little shade on the irises and will keep the deflowered iris bed attractive throughout the summer. Eschscholzia will be content with the same dry and poor soil as the iris. Geraniums, salvias, and Libertias also pair well with irises, lightening their habit. Slopes and terraced edges can be stabilized by dense plantings of old diploid varieties that can remain in place and require very little care. If the goal is more decorative and easy access for care, more modern tetraploid varieties can be chosen, such as intermediate varieties that are less likely to be toppled by the wind than the tall ones.

At the base of a wall, the relative shelter from the wind allows for the use of tall irises. Of course, they can also be planted in the foreground of shorter and earlier varieties.

Path border: the entire range can be used, from the early dwarfs under 40cm (16in) tall, to the tall irises over 75cm (30in) tall that bloom in May, including intermediate varieties (in terms of size and earliness) and border irises, which are of medium size but flower with the tall ones. Tall irises exposed to the wind may need staking to prevent them from being flattened.

Mass planting border: the domain of border irises but also dwarfs, depending on the circumstances.

Mixed border: the entire size range can be used, chosen according to the position (foreground, background) and the size of the surrounding plants.

Iris bed, iris garden: the paradise of iris enthusiasts where the choice and arrangement of varieties (shape, colour, fragrance...) reflects individual taste. The use of the full range of bearded irises allows for two and a half months of flowers in spring. Choosing so-called re-blooming irises offers some additional flowers in late summer or autumn.

The vegetable garden can be adorned with a few clumps or borders of irises, as it is also the traditional place for growing flowers for cutting.