Iris (sk. germanica) 'BEDTIME STORY' bearded iris

Bedtime Story is a beautiful name for a beautiful iris. Calming colours with a happy ending that every bedtime story deserves. It produces amethyst violet flowers with purple red veins and white and yellow beard in the throat. Midseason blooming begins in mid May and continues until early June. Sword-like leaves are deciduous, pale green. Stems are 50-60 cm tall and hold up very well in rain.

Hybrid varieties of bearded iris thrive in full sun and should be planted in well-drained but moist soil of any pH. Various sources say different things about pH requirements, however, truth is that if the soil is reasonably fertile acidity does not play a significant role. Do not mistake them for water irises which do like wet and boggy conditions, these hybrids might rot it such environment.

The plants spread with their rhizomes but are not invasive. Unwanted new rhizomes can easily be dug out and transplanted somewhere else. The rhizomes like warmth so if your garden beds are mulched reduce its amount above iris’ roots to minium. Occasional fertilizing is welcome to enhance flowering and plant health. Thanks to showy flowers and variability of colours available they will be both a perfect companion plants for others as well as great features in any landscape design. Fully hardy to min. -40°C (USDA zone 3.

Last update 27-05-2020