Iris 'Spring Festival' (TB) — Clump forming

Overview

Iris 'Spring Festival' (TB) is a clump forming herbaceous perennial in the genus Iris, part of the Iridaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Iris 'Spring Festival' (TB) grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam soils and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H6. Suggested uses include city and courtyard gardens, cottage and informal garden, patio and container plants, cut flowers and flower borders and beds.

About

Iris 'Spring Festival' is a clump-forming, herbaceous perennial bearded iris that produces its flowering display from May to July. It carries deciduous foliage and prefers a sunny, sheltered situation on well-drained loam of neutral pH. Suited to south-, east- or west-facing exposures, it is winter-tough to UK hardiness H6. Its growth habit and flowering season make it useful for borders, containers and cut flowers.

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 'Spring Festival' is a cultivated bearded iris sold for garden borders and containers; it grows as a herbaceous perennial in a clump-forming habit with leaves that die back in winter. Flowering occurs reliably from May to July, lending itself to both mixed herbaceous borders and short vase work while the foliage remains present outside the flowering months. Position the plant in full sun on a well-drained loam with a neutral pH and choose a south-, east- or west-facing site that is sheltered from strong winds. It benefits from a spot that warms quickly in spring; ensure drainage is good because the foliage is deciduous and the crown should not remain waterlogged over winter. The hardiness rating H6 indicates it will tolerate typical UK winter conditions when given these siting and soil conditions. Iris 'Spring Festival' fits well in city courtyards, patio containers and cottage-style borders where a defined clump form is required. It also works as a cut flower during its May–July season, when stems can be harvested for arranging. Planting where the spring display can be seen from a window or patio makes best use of its flowering period.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Iris

Sunlight: Full sun
Soil type: Loam
Soil pH: Neutral
Soil moisture: Well-drained
Aspect: South-facing, East-facing, West-facing
Exposure: Sheltered
UK hardiness: H6

Plant details

Iris 'Spring Festival' (TB) size, habit and characteristics

Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
Habit: Clump forming
Foliage: Deciduous
Suggested uses: City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Cut flowers, Flower borders and beds