Iris germanica Dame de Coeur

Everyone knows Iris germanica, which has become world-famous thanks to the paintings of Van Gogh and Monet. It owes its popularity to its unique formation.

Its wide, rigid sword-shaped leaves contrast with crumpled, multicoloured flowers perched up high. The flowers have the particularity of forming three large erect 'standard' petals and three silky and trailing sepals or 'falls', at the top of which sit a fuzzy "beard". The flowering lasts a few weeks in May/June. Irises have large fleshy rhizomes that spread along the ground. They like light, warmth, and light and well-drained soils. Not afraid of cold or summer drought, their main enemy is moisture, especially in heavy soils. Superb in a sunny flowerbed, they are also highly appreciated for cut flower arrangements.

The Dame de Coeur bearded Iris measures 90 cm (35in) in height. It is not easy to describe this colour, which hesitates between deep pink and light raspberry red, fading under the mandarin orange beards. Flowers of a beautiful size, with undulating edges and beautifully formed.

Very robust, it should be exposed to full sun, in rather dry and well-drained soil.

Place the Dame de Coeur Iris in a bed or border, in the company of yarrows, alliums, stipas, or roses. It is preferable to scatter them in groups of three, or singly, rather than creating homogeneous iris beds.