Iris germanica Bruno - Bearded Iris

The 'Bruno' German iris is a large historic garden iris that has a numerous offspring due to its many qualities. This variety offers in May-June very large flowers brilliantly bi-coloured with light lavender pink petals washed with bronze that dominate very dark and velvety sepals, of purple-wine colour, finely bordered with fawn. White veins radiate from the golden yellow beard pointed with orange. This plant quickly forms large, very flowering clumps that are noticeable from a distance in the garden. Ideal in massifs, borders, on slopes.

The 'Bruno' Iris was already listed in iris catalogs as early as 1927. This variety is described as an excellent seedling of the Dominion iris, the first tetraploid variety that launched the iris revolution in the 1920s. It is a rhizomatous perennial plant, deciduous in winter, with a upright tufted habit from spring. It belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of the many cultivars obtained for centuries, whose controversial origins are discussed around the number of chromosomes of potential ancestors. It should be noted that Garden Irises have European origins.

The 'Bruno' Iris will reach a height of 80cm (32in) when in flower, and the clump will spread without theoretical limit over time, with the centre rhizomes becoming bare in favour of the outer rhizomes. This iris has an elegant upright habit in dense tufts. The foliage consists of long sword-shaped, glaucous green and highly veined leaves. In April, floral stems appear adorned with numerous buds that will bloom in May, opening from the top towards the lower branches. The colour of this plant is, as always with Garden Irises, magnified by the texture of velvety petals and silky sepals.

To accompany irises, choose plants to associate based on their needs (exposure, soil...), their "respectful" vegetation towards irises (low plants or light foliage), and their decorative complementarity (appearance, flowering date). For example, Gaura will provide little shade to the irises and will keep the iris bed attractive throughout the summer. Eschscholzia will be satisfied with a dry and poor soil, just like the irises. Geraniums, salvias, and Libertia also complement irises very well. Slopes and terrace edges will be stabilized by dense plantings of old diploid varieties that can remain in place and require little care. If the goal is more decorative and access for care is possible, one can choose more modern varieties, for example intermediates that are less likely to be knocked over than tall ones.

At the base of a wall, the relative shelter from the wind allows the use of tall irises, whose flower stems are sensitive to bad weather. They can of course be planted in the foreground of shorter and earlier varieties. The vegetable garden can be adorned with a few clumps or borders of irises as it is also the classic location for the family cultivation of cut flowers.