Iris 'Northwest Progress' (TB)

About

Iris 'Northwest Progress' is a named cultivar within the genus Iris (family Iridaceae) noted for its flowering season from late spring into mid-summer. It produces blooms between May and July. The cultivar status indicates it has been selected and named for garden use. Observing its flowering display will show how it sits within a border or bed.

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 'Northwest Progress' is a cultivar of the genus Iris, placed in the Iridaceae family and intended for ornamental use. It reliably flowers in the UK between May and July, providing a seasonal display at the transition from late spring into summer. As with any named iris selection, provenance and supplier notes are the best source for precise habit, height and other particulars specific to the cultivar. Before committing to a permanent position, check the plant at flowering to judge spike height and proportion relative to neighbouring perennials and grasses; this helps decide whether it should sit at the front, middle or rear of a mixed border. Decisions about soil, aspect and winter protection are best taken from the nursery description for this cultivar or from established local experience with the same name. The May-to-July flowering window makes Iris 'Northwest Progress' useful for bridging seasonal gaps between early spring bulbs and high-summer perennials. Use the flowering period to plan repeat interest: pair it with plants that bloom either side of that window so the border maintains continuity of flower. Note the flowering months when planning for cut flowers or garden highlights, as the spikes will be at their best during those weeks.

More in the Iris genus

Browse all Iris →