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About

Iris 'Leonato' is a named cultivar of Iris in the family Iridaceae, offered for its seasonal flowers. Its flowering period runs from May to July. Nursery labels and cultivar descriptions should be consulted for details on habit and appearance. Record the cultivar name at planting so you can track its performance year to year.

About the genus

Iris takes its name from the Greek goddess of the rainbow, and for once the naming feels entirely earned. I can't think of another genus that covers so much ground — inky purples, burnt apricots, clean whites, blues that seem lit from inside — or so many situations. There are bearded irises that want their rhizomes baked in full sun, Siberian types happy in ordinary border soil, and species that will sit contentedly at the edge of a pond. What they share is the flower: three petals standing up, three falling away, built with a kind of architectural confidence most plants never attempt. Even out of bloom the foliage earns its place — those upright fans of blue-green leaves hold a border together for months. I grow them for the fortnight in May and June when nothing else in the garden can compete, and I've made my peace with that. Some plants are for the long haul. An iris is an event.

Written by Henry

In the garden

Iris 'Leonato' sits within the genus Iris (family Iridaceae) and is sold under its cultivar name by growers and retailers. As a named iris, its primary garden interest is its seasonal display, which occurs between May and July; that predictable window is useful when planning consecutive bloom in borders. Specific care details such as exact positioning, soil preference and hardiness can differ between iris cultivars, so always follow the supplier’s growing notes and the label attached to the plant. The flowering period gives a clear cue for timing any tasks associated with blooms, such as staking, deadheading or scheduling photography and displays. In the UK garden, maintain clear labelling when planting several cultivars so you can compare flowering dates and vigour across seasons. Keep written notes or a planting map that records Iris 'Leonato' by name; those records are the most reliable way to judge how this particular cultivar performs in your soil and microclimate from one May–July season to the next.

More in the Iris genus

Browse all Iris →
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