Iris 'Remembering Vic' (Spuria)

About

Iris 'Remembering Vic' (Spuria) is a Spuria iris cultivar in the Iridaceae that produces flowering stems from May to July. It belongs to the genus Iris and shows the upright habit typical of Spuria types. The plant is grown for its summer display of iris blooms and for adding height in planting schemes. Expect it to form a clump that can be positioned where mid to early-summer flowers are needed.

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 'Remembering Vic' (Spuria) sits within the genus Iris and the family Iridaceae and flowers from May to July. As a Spuria-type cultivar it contributes upright flowering stems to the summer border and is selected where extended early-summer bloom is wanted. The name marks it clearly as a Spuria iris rather than a bearded or bulbous type. Position the plant so its clump has room to develop and airflow around the leaves; that helps flowering and reduces damp-related foliar issues. Soil that drains freely but retains some moisture through spring will support good bloom, and a sunny or lightly sheltered spot will concentrate flowering in the May–July period. Planting depth and spacing follow the usual practice for rhizomatous irises: allow the crown to sit at soil level and avoid deep planting. Use Iris 'Remembering Vic' (Spuria) where taller perennials and grasses form the backbone of a border, or in a dedicated iris bed to create a sequence of colour through early summer. Cut back flower stems when seed pods start to form to tidy the clump and divert energy into the foliage for the following season. Expect its flowering season to be a reliable part of the garden calendar between May and July.

More in the Iris genus

Browse all Iris →