Iris germanica Deep Dark Secret

Iris germanica 'Deep Dark Secret' is a spectacular and mysterious Tall Bearded Iris. Its thick shiny flowers have 3 petals of dark purple-blue fading on the edges, dominating 3 sepals of the same tone, shaded with black-violet around long and beautiful bronze-golden beards, lightening on the edges. A colour gradient that accentuates its ruffled corolla. The flowers, also nicely scented, appear in the middle of the iris season, in May. This magnificent variety has been awarded many times.

The 'Deep Dark Secret' Iris is a rhizomatous perennial plant that develops from spring in elegantly upright clumps, with its foliage disappearing in winter. It belongs to the family Iridaceae. 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. They are plants that thrive in calcareous soils and require plenty of sunlight for their rhizomes to 'cook' in summer in order to bloom. A minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day is generally required.

'Deep Dark Secret' will reach 80 cm (32in) in height when in flower. It is a sturdy variety with improved resistance to wind and rain. The clump will spread indefinitely over time, with the central rhizomes becoming bare in favour of the outer ones. The foliage is made up of long and wide sword-shaped leaves, of a slightly glaucous green, traversed by parallel veins. In April floral stems appear that will produce large flowers in May (at least 8 per stem) blooming from the top down towards the lower branches. The very rich colouring of this plant is, as always with Bearded Irises, magnified by the thick and iridescent texture of the petals and sepals. It should be noted that the flower exhales a pronounced and sweet floral scent.

Obtained by Black in 1998

Award: HM (Honorable Mention) in 2000, AM (Award of Merit) in 2002.

To complement 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. California Poppies (Eschscholzia), like irises, will be satisfied with dry and poor soil. Perennial 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. Shorter and earlier varieties can be planted in the foreground.

Alongside a pathway: the realm of early dwarf irises under 40 cm (16in), up to intermediates (in size and earliness) and border irises, medium-sized but which flower with the tall ones.

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

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

Iris bed, iris garden: the paradise of the iris enthusiast where the choice of varieties (shape, colour, fragrance...) reflects individual taste. The use of the entire range of bearded irises allows for two and a half months of flowers in spring. The choice of so-called reblooming irises offers a few additional flowers in late summer or autumn, depending on the climate.

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