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Iris x hollandica Bronze Queen

Iris x hollandica Bronze Queen
Dutch Iris

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This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty

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Value-for-money
This Dutch iris offers bicolored flowers with a very rich colour. Three petals of smoky purple-violet dominate three yellow sepals tinged with bronze, enhanced by a small golden yellow spot. It blooms in early summer, more or less early depending on the climate. Magnificent hardy bulbous plant, as beautiful in borders as in bouquets.
Flower size
9 cm
Height at maturity
55 cm
Spread at maturity
10 cm
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -20°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil, Moist soil
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Best planting time October to November
Recommended planting time September to November
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Flowering time May to June
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Description

The Iris (x) hollandica 'Bronze Queen' is an original and refined variety of Dutch Iris, whose large bicolored flowers display an unusual colour for these hybrids. They feature different shades of violet-purple infused with smoky mauve for the upright petals, and dark yellow with bronze and orange highlights for the sepals. This bulbous iris blooms in early summer, more or less early depending on the climate, producing large, stylized flowers that stand out for their elegance and mass display, as well as in bouquets. The 'Bronze Queen' flower is a true masterpiece that should be showcased in the garden.

 

Dutch Irises, or bulbous irises, have an underground storage organ in the form of a bulb, unlike their famous cousins the German Irises, or garden irises. Belonging to the same botanical family as the latter, the iridaceae family, they also differ from them by the absence of "beards", those pretty little fluffy and colorful tongues found on the drooping sepals of German irises. Dutch irises have never grown wild on Dutch soil, but are the result of cross-breeding between two main botanical species: Iris filifolia, sometimes confused with Iris xyphium which resembles it, both originating from Spain and North Africa, and Iris tingitana, from Tangiers and Northern Morocco. The genealogy of Dutch hybrids can be confusing at times, but the result is always remarkable. Their flowers, somewhat underused in the garden, are highly appreciated in floristry.

 

The Bronze Queen cultivar eventually forms an erect and very narrow clump of 50-60 cm (20-24in) in flower, this perennial spreads indefinitely through the production of bulblets. This cultivar blooms in late spring, usually in May-June, for 2 to 3 weeks, on wind-resistant stems. Its solitary or paired flowers on the stems, 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4in) in diameter, are relatively slender compared to those of German irises, but undeniably elegant. They consist of 3 upright, translucent, slender petals of small size, in shades of violet, mauve, and smoky. Beneath this trio are 3 almost horizontal petals, closely linked to the dentate petaloid styles on the edges, arranged in quincunx. Wider, they are spatulate, marked with bronze and darker veins, illuminated by a golden yellow spot at the base. Each flower can last for 5 to 7 days, even in a vase. The bulb is round, about 2 to 3 cm (1in) wide, covered with a fibrous tunic of pinkish beige. It produces a few linear, thin and leathery leaves, somewhat resembling those of a grass, with a slightly glaucous green colour, often slightly striated and folded in half towards the ground. They often appear in autumn, persist to varying degrees depending on the severity of the winter, and dry up during the dormant period.

 

Less known and less used by gardeners than German irises, Dutch irises are nevertheless easy to grow in light and fertile soil and have undeniable elegance. Plant them in groups of 10 to 20 bulbs of the same variety; they will come back year after year to offer you more and more elegant and joyful flowers, which go well with the spring flowering of flowering shrubs. They also look stunning when planted among perennials like peonies and daylilies, which will conceal their absence in summer when they are dormant. Their Mediterranean origins make them highly adapted to summer drought. Finally, pick their flowers to create bouquets with roses, arums, or even late tulips. All irises need a sunny exposure to bloom well. Give them at least half a day of full sun per day. 

Iris x hollandica Bronze Queen in pictures

Iris x hollandica Bronze Queen (Flowering) Flowering

Plant habit

Height at maturity 55 cm
Spread at maturity 10 cm
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour brown/bronze
Flowering time May to June
Inflorescence Solitary
Flower size 9 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Semi-evergreen
Foliage colour medium green
Foliage description Deciduous foliage in summer.

Botanical data

Genus

Iris

Species

x hollandica

Cultivar

Bronze Queen

Family

Iridaceae

Other common names

Dutch Iris

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference837051

Other Iris hollandica - Dutch iris

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From €0.26 Bulb
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From €0.26 Bulb
Out of stock
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Out of stock
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Available to order
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Planting and care

Plant the bulbs in September-October, in a sunny location, in ordinary but fertile, deep, and well-drained soil (even sandy or rocky). Add a little coarse sand or compost to your soil if necessary. Plant the bulbs 10 cm (4in) deep and preferably in groups of the same variety, spaced 10-15 cm (4-6in) apart. Cut off faded flowers at their base, taking care to leave the stem. Continue to water the plants at their base. Once the foliage has turned yellow, remove it and leave the bulbs in place for them to bloom again the following year. After flowering, water 3 times with liquid fertilizer at one-month intervals. Leave the bulbs in place for several years. Dutch Irises rest in summer, preferably in dry soil. Their bulbs dislike constantly damp soil during the summer rest period.

Divide clumps after 4 to 5 years, when they appear less floriferous. Do this once the leaves have dried, at the beginning of the rest period.

The leaves of the Dutch Iris should only be cut when dry; they allow the bulb to replenish its reserves for the following spring flowering. Remove pods as they form so that the plant does not exhaust itself producing seeds.

Planting period

Best planting time October to November
Recommended planting time September to November
Planting depth 10 cm

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Border
Hardiness Hardy down to -20°C (USDA zone 6b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 50 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil, Well-drained soil, neutral, even dry in summer.

Care

Pruning instructions Remove the faded flowers so that the plant doesn't exhaust itself by producing seeds.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time June
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
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