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Iris 'Topolino' is a named cultivar in the genus Iris (family Iridaceae) that flowers from May to July. As a registered garden variety it will be sold under its cultivar name so buyers can match performance to the label. Plan planting and companions around its late-spring to mid-summer bloom period.

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 'Topolino' is a named garden cultivar within the genus Iris and the Iridaceae family, noted for its defined bloom window in the UK of May to July. As a cultivar, its identity and flowering period are fixed by name, so check nursery information and labels when selecting plants to be sure the clone suits your plans. When preparing to plant, follow the supplier’s directions on position, soil and planting depth rather than relying on general rules: the label will indicate the best aspect and any particular site requirements for that specific cultivar. Source plants from reputable nurseries and retain the original planting instructions; they provide the most accurate guidance on spacing and establishment for that named selection. Use Iris 'Topolino' where its May–July flowers will be noticed—along paths, beside seating, or among later spring and early-summer perennials so its bloom window is supported by neighbours either side of that period. If you are arranging seasonal succession, place it where the May to July display bridges gaps between spring bulbs and high-summer flowering plants.

More in the Iris genus

Browse all Iris →
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