Iris germanica Frappé

The 'Frappé' Iris germanica is an extraordinary perennial bearded Iris that offers gardeners a second early summer flowering as generous as the spring one. Its large slightly ruffled flowers display a beautiful pastel pink colour, reminiscent of seashells, accompanied by a light sweet fragrance. Undoubtedly a beautiful success, it should be planted in a rich, not too dry soil to encourage the second flowering.

'Frappé' Iris is a rhizomatous perennial plant that develops in elegant clumps from spring, with its foliage disappearing in winter. It belongs to the Iris 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. These plants prefer calcareous soils and require a minimum of half a day of full sun to bloom well.

'Frappé' reaches a height of 86 cm (34in) when in bloom, making it a medium-sized variety. The clump will spread indefinitely over time, with the central rhizomes giving way to the outer ones. The foliage consists of long and wide sword-shaped leaves, with a slightly glaucous green colour and parallel veins. This variety blooms for the first time in the middle of the Tall Iris season, in May. In April floral stems appear that will produce flowers opening from the top down towards the lower branches. If it is not lacking in water or nutrients, it will produce more flowers, sometimes as early as July, depending on the climate. Each flower consists of 3 upright petals ranging from very pale strawberry pink to pale pink, 3 large sepals of slightly darker strawberry pink mixed with very pale raspberry pink, striated with white near the throat, and 3 mandarin orange beards. The colour of this plant is, as always with Bearded Irises, enhanced by the texture of the petals and sepals. Not only is this 'Frappé' variety very beautiful, it is also pleasantly fragrant.

Obtained by Monty Byers in 1990

To accompany your irises, choose plants based on their similar needs (sunlight, soil), a growth habit that is "respectful" of irises (i.e. non-competitive plants which are shorter, have light foliage), and how they complement each other visually (appearance, flowering period). For example, Gauras won't create shade, and will keep the bed attractive all summer after your irises have finished flowering. California Poppies and Love-in-a-Mist, like irises, will tolerate dry soil in summer. Perennial geraniums, salvias, and Libertias also accompany irises very well. Slopes and terraced edges can be stabilised 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 maintenance is possible, you can choose more modern varieties, e.g. intermediate ones that are less likely than tall ones to be flattened by wind and rain.

The vegetable garden can be adorned with a few clumps or borders of irises, as ithe place dedicated to the cultivation of cut flowers.