Plant Profile: Iris hollandica

This elegantly flowering perennial herb belongs to the Iridaceae family and is cultivated from bulbs rather than rhizomes. When planting, space the bulbs 4 to 6 inches apart and bury them 3 to 5 inches deep, aiming for 6 to 8 bulbs per square foot in sunny areas with well-drained, light soil. These plants were hybridized from the Spanish iris group by Dutch breeders. After the blooms have faded, the bulbs will produce bulblets (offshoots) that can be separated and replanted, although they require several years to reach maturity. To enhance enjoyment in future seasons, it is advisable to either separate and replant these bulblets or to plant additional bulbs each fall. In cooler climates, these irises are often treated as annuals, with bulbs planted in the fall for a spring bloom between April and May. During the growing season, they should be kept moist and can tolerate light shade in the afternoon.

The leaves of this iris are strap-like, overlapping at the base and aligned in a single plane, similar to many other iris varieties, but they are finer, thinner, and shorter, measuring 15 to 24 inches. The flowers are striking in the garden and are highly valued as cut flowers. Various cultivars produce blooms in a spectrum of colors, including purple, blue, yellow, and white, with one to several flowers atop a bare stem. Each flower consists of six parts: three outer "falls" that spread or droop and three inner "standards" that stand erect. While they lack beards, the falls may feature a yellow spot or stripe. The fruit takes the form of a capsule. These plants can be vulnerable to issues such as fungal infections, bacterial problems, and iris borers, so it is important to keep the planting area free of old leaves and debris.

For further details on Iris, please refer to additional resources.