Iris germanica Coffee Whisper - Bearded Iris

Iris germanica 'Coffee Whisper', a type of tall bearded iris, offers tender and delightfully original flowering in May, with a blend of unusual and changing shades: the well-balanced and gracefully undulate flowers raise their white standard petals washed with cream above sepals that are initially smoke pink, becoming milky coffee, with lavender-flamed shoulders. All these shades are enhanced by a beautiful mandarin beard. It is a tall and undoubtedly beautiful iris, which blooms in the middle of the season. Perfect for borders, edges, and slopes.

The 'Coffee Whisper' Iris is a rhizomatous and deciduous perennial plant that develops in spring in elegantly upright clumps, with its foliage disappearing in winter. It belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of many cultivars obtained over the centuries, with debate about their disputed origins revolving around the number of chromosomes of potential ancestors. It should be noted that Bearded Irises have European origins. 'Coffee Whisper' is large in size, reaching a height of 96 cm (38in) when in bloom, with numerous buds, and the clump will spread indefinitely over time, with the central rhizomes becoming bare in favour of the outer ones. It has an elegant upright habit in a dense clump. The foliage consists of long sword-shaped leaves, glaucous green and heavily veined. In April floral stems appear which will give flowers in May, opening progressivley from the top down to the lower branches. The colour of this plant is, as always with Bearded Irises, enhanced by the silky texture of the petals and sepals. It should be noted that the flowers are also fragrant.

To accompany the irises, choose plants based on their needs (sunlight, soil), their "respectful" growth habit vis-a-vis irises (low-growing plants or light foliage), and how they complement each other visually (appearance, flowering period). For example, Gauras will cast little shade and will keep the bed attractive throughout summer once the irises have flowered. Eschscholzia, like irises, will be satisfied with dry and poor soil. Geraniums, salvias, and Libertia also complement irises very well. Slopes and terraced edges can be stabilised by dense planting 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, such as intermediates that are less likely than tall varieties to be knocked over by wind and rain.

At the foot of a wall, the relative shelter from the wind allows for the use of tall irises. These can of course be planted in the background of shorter and earlier varieties.

Alongside a pathway: the entire range can be used, from early dwarfs under 40 cm (16in) to tall irises over 75 cm (30in) that bloom in May, including intermediates (in size and earliness) and border irises, medium-sized but blooming with the tall ones. Tall irises exposed to the wind may risk being knocked over if not staked.

Edge of a flowerbed: the domain of border irises but also dwarfs, depending on the circumstances.

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

Iris bed/iris garden: the paradise of the iris lover, where the choice and arrangement of varieties (shape, colour, fragrance) reflects each individual's taste. The use of the entire range of bearded irises allows for two and a half months of blooms in spring. The choice of so-called perpetual irises offers some additional flowers in late summer or autumn.

The vegetable garden can include a few clumps or borders of irises, as the classic place for growing cut flowers.