Siberian irises are beardless irises which bloom at the end of the spring Tall Bearded Iris blooming season and help to extend the progression of bloom in the perennial garden. They have slim upright attractive foliage which retains its vertical form long after bloom season. They continue adding form and texture into the first fall frosts when the foliage turns a reddish brown. Some of them do rebloom. This is discussed in the individual descriptions.
Bloom season here in Monkton starts in mid to late May & often extends into July. The flowers appear en masse at the top of the foliage and give the appearance of floating over the garden.
Among the desirable attributes of Siberian Irises is the durability of their blossoms. Flowers are small & delicate supported on strong stems. The smaller size of the individual blooms means that a spring rainstorm does not injure the flowers. In addition mature clumps send up many bloom stalks which give a lovely massed effect when seen from a distance.
Colors range from white through blues to violets & deep purples into violet pinks & yellows. There are a number of cultivars with multiple falls which look like miniature Japanese Iris. They make wonderful cut flowers. Siberians are strong hardy plants that thrive in spite of severe winters & even ice storms. When first planted they need to be well watered but once established, they survive drought conditions well. I contrast to the Bearded Irises which are harmed by mulching, Siberian Irises should be mulched with pine needles.