The we alth of colors that the world of bearded irises offers is hard to beat. Thanks to this and their willingness to adapt, it is not difficult to combine the bearded iris - also known as the iris - with other plants.
Which plants can you combine bearded iris with?
Bearded irises can be combined well with plants such as poppies, lavender, steppe sage, lady's mantle, delphiniums, peonies, grasses and daylilies. Pay attention to harmonious colors, different growth heights and suitable flowering times for an attractive result.
What factors should you consider when combining bearded irises?
For appealing synergistic effects, you should consider the following factors to be important when combining bearded irises:
- Flower color: white, pink, violet, yellow, orange, red, blue or almost black
- Flowering time: May to June
- Location requirements: full sun, well-drained and rather dry soil
- Growth height: up to 120 cm
When choosing planting partners for the bearded iris, take into account the height to be achieved. This depends on the respective species: While the half-tall bearded iris reaches a height of up to 70 cm, the tall bearded iris is much larger.
It looks impressive when combined with perennials that bloom at the same time as the bearded iris. But you can also put them in company with plants that only bloom with a delay and thus create a sea of flowers that can be admired for longer.
Bearded irises often have several bright colors and are striking in their own right. It is therefore recommended to combine them with more subtly colored plants or to choose simple bearded irises for combinations with more colorful companion plants.
Combine bearded irises in the bed or in the pot
The tall types of bearded irises should find their designated place in the background of a bed. The smaller specimens, however, are allowed to settle in the foreground. In the presence of flowering perennials, but also fragrant herbs and peaceful ground cover, you can create wonderful visual appeal.
Suitable companion plants for bearded irises include:
- Poppy
- Lavender
- Steppe Sage
- woman's coat
- larkspur
- Peonies
- Grasses such as nest bluegrass, blue fescue and small miscanthus
- Daylilies
Combine bearded irises with peonies
The peonies go well with the bearded irises, but should be planted at a respectful distance. The two plants present their flowers at the same time and, when combined, are simply spectacular. Combinations of white peonies with purple bearded irises are particularly beautiful. Since the flowers of both plants are quite colorful and large, it is advisable to choose monochromatic varieties.
Combine Bearded Iris with Lady's Mantle
The combination of lady's mantle and bearded iris is very popular. With its rather rounded growth, the lady's mantle creates a great counterpart to the upright and rather straight growth of the bearded iris. When making this association, however, be careful not to place the lady's mantle too close to the bearded iris, because bearded irises do not like their rhizome being shaded.
Combine bearded iris with poppy seeds
The poppy conveys a lively lightness and likes to sway in the wind, while the bearded iris expresses pride and stability. In addition to the visual balance, this combination is convincing because both plants can easily tolerate dry locations in full sun. How about planting individual poppy plants, such as the Turkish poppy, between a group of blue or white bearded irises?
Combine bearded irises as a bouquet in the vase
As cut flowers, you can integrate bearded irises into early summer bouquets or make them the tone setters. You can achieve fantastic combinations with tulips or peonies, for example. Please note, however, not to overload the arrangement with colors, but rather to create harmonious transitions.
- Tulips
- Daffodils
- Peonies
- Lupins
- Gypsophila
