Iris 'Sentimental Mood'

About

Iris 'Sentimental Mood' is a cultivated iris in the Iridaceae, notable for flowering from May to July. It sits within the genus Iris and provides a concentrated late-spring to early-summer display. Routine attention to the flowering stems and post-bloom trimming will help the clump remain healthy over time.

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 'Sentimental Mood' is a garden cultivar within the genus Iris (family Iridaceae) prized for its seasonal bloom period, which runs from May to July. As a selected iris, it is valued for that concentrated flowering window and for adding mid-to-late spring interest where a clear, seasonal show is required. Growers typically treat it as a spring-flowering herbaceous perennial and plan the summer schedule around its bloom. Care focuses on timing rather than complex pruning: monitor the display through May to July and remove spent flower stalks once seedheads begin to form to tidy the clump and reduce seed set. Where plants become congested, lift and divide the rhizomes after flowering to restore vigour; dividing after the main flush of blooms gives time for roots to re-establish before winter. Allow foliage to die back naturally so the plant can store energy in its root system. Positioning should emphasise the seasonal show — place clumps where the May–July flowers will be seen at close range, such as the front of mixed borders or beside pathways. Grouped plantings make the flowering period more pronounced and simplify maintenance because trimming and dividing can be carried out on a single block of plants rather than isolated specimens. Removing spent flowering stems promptly after the cultivar’s May–July display helps concentrate energy into the roots for the following season.

More in the Iris genus

Browse all Iris →