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Iris germanica Making Eyes - Bearded Iris

Iris germanica Making Eyes
German Iris, Bearded Iris

4,8/5
12 reviews
2 reviews
1 reviews
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Neat order, lovely young plants. Beautiful flowering. I am delighted.

Leyla, 26/02/2020

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More information

Value-for-money
A dwarf iris with delicate and charming flowers: the standard petals are milky white and the sepals plum, with a violet veined white pattern around the lemon yellow beards. Slightly taller variety, ideal for borders. Very early, flowering from the beginning of April.
Height at maturity
35 cm
Spread at maturity
25 cm
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -15°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil, Moist soil
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Best planting time September to October
Recommended planting time February to March, July to October
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Flowering time April to May
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Description

Iris germanica Making Eyes is a hardy variety with delicate and charming flowers: the petals are milky white, and the sepals are plum, with a white pattern veined with violet around the lemon yellow beards. This iris is slightly taller and very early flowering, starting in early April. Ideal for borders.

The 'Making Eyes' Iris is an old variety with a long career in gardens, guaranteeing robustness and reliability. It is a rhizomatous and deciduous perennial plant, forming upright clumps from spring onwards. It belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of the many modest-sized cultivars that appeared in the 1950s. Originally the 'lilliput' category referred to the cross-breeding of an Iris pumila and a tall iris. This term now generally refers to the category of standard dwarf bearded irises (SDB). 'Making Eyes' will still reach a height of 35 cm (14in) when in flower, 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 a dense clumping habit. The foliage consists of long, glaucous green and highly veined, sword-shaped leaves. In March floral stems appear, which will produce flowers blooming from the top towards the lower branches starting in early April. The colour of this plant, as always with bearded irises, is enhanced by the texture of the petals and sepals.

Breeder: Blyth 1982.

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

Alongside a pathway: the entire range can be used, from dwarf early-flowering varieties under 40 cm (16in) tall, to tall irises over 75 cm (30in) tall that flower in May, as well as intermediates (in size and earliness) and border irises, which are medium-sized but flower with the tall varieties. Tall irises, when exposed to wind, may need staking to prevent them from being knocked over.

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, chosen based on position (front, back) and the size of the surrounding plants.

Iris germanica Making Eyes - Bearded Iris in pictures

Iris germanica Making Eyes - Bearded Iris (Flowering) Flowering
Iris germanica Making Eyes - Bearded Iris (Foliage) Foliage

Flowering

Flower colour two-tone
Flowering time April to May
Inflorescence Cluster

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour medium green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 35 cm
Spread at maturity 25 cm
Growth rate normal

Botanical data

Genus

Iris

Species

germanica

Cultivar

Making Eyes

Family

Iridaceae

Other common names

German Iris, Bearded Iris

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference805141

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Planting and care

Does your garden have a sunny area, sheltered from the wind, that is warm and rather dry in summer? This is the ideal location for planting irises! In the shade they will grow but do not flower. They are hardy and do not need winter protection. Well-drained soil is perfect, even if it is rather dry. Iris germanica require alkaline soil: amend yours with lime if it tends to be acidic. Excessively wet soil promotes rhizome rot. Plant from July to September: this allows the rhizomes to grow sufficiently before lifting, and to develop new roots before winter. For best results they should be planted as soon as they are purchased. Plan to divide the iris every 4 years or so to give them fresh soil. They have strong growth and need space to develop and flower well. They are planted with spacing appropriate to the size and vigour of the variety: about 34-50 cm (13-20in) for tall ones (5 to 10 plants per square metre). In a monochrome planting, the rhizomes are planted in a staggered pattern. When mixing colours, it is recommended for the overall aesthetics of the iris bed to plant them in groups of several plants of the same variety. Always consider the direction of rhizome growth by arranging them in a star shape, with buds and leaves facing outward, and spacing them well in relation to other varieties so they have room to develop.

Planting:

Dig a hole that is wide and deep enough for the roots. Make a large conical mound of soil in the hole, on which the rhizome and spread-out roots are placed. Cover the roots. It is important that the rhizome is left just above the surface of the soil. It should not be planted in a depression (risk of rot), so anticipate that the soil will settle and the iris will sink. In clayey or damp soil, the rhizome should even be left raised on a slight mound of a few centimeters. To make the soil adhere to the roots, lightly compact the soil and water it abundantly after planting. Water 2-3 times if necessary until the plant establishes.

Maintenance:

Keep the soil free of weeds by lightly hoeing, taking care not to damage the rootstocks or roots. Weeds shade the irises, retain moisture (leading to rot), and attract slugs. Similarly, remove dry leaves. If they are diseased (reddish-brown spots of heterosporiosis), burn them. Remove faded flowers.

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Planting period

Best planting time September to October
Recommended planting time February to March, July to October

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Edge of border, Container, Slope
Hardiness Hardy down to -15°C (USDA zone 7b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 5 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous
Soil type Chalky (poor, alkaline and well-drained), Silty-loamy (rich and light), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil, Well-drained soil

Care

Pruning instructions Cut the flowering stems at the end of the flowering period. If desired, cut the foliage at a slant halfway up in summer using secateurs.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time July to August
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
4,8/5
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