Iris Plant
The Lovely and Amazing Iris Plant
Oh, the Iris plant! It is fitting that the word Iris refers us to the Greek goddess of the rainbow, one of the messengers of the Gods. Just as the rainbow contains the colors of the spectrum, so does the Iris plant.
The painter Van Gogh certainly knew the beauties of the Iris, painting both its wild waving form as it occurs in windy fields of France and its more domestic form, as a still life. Van Gogh clearly appreciated the Iris’s deep hues (Van Gogh preferred the purple variety) and its silky texture. If you look at his painting of the wild variety, you see the Iris plant from every angle; the artist clearly loved everything about this flower.
And he wasn’t the only one. Not only is the flower celebrated in Greek mythology, but also, closer to home, our own American painter, Georgia O’Keefe appreciated the Iris’ more feminine qualities. In addition, in the literary medium, you can find Irises well represented in the poetry of Louise Gluck, Mary Oliver and our esteemed Poet Laureate Robert Frost. “Iris by Night” is one of Frost’s most beautiful though lesser-known poems and it plays off the mythological symbolism of Iris as the Goddess of the rainbow in most amazing fashion. I would quote from it here but the poem does not lend itself to amputation. Just google it and see it in its entirety. It is short and well worth a reading!
The Iris Plant: A Rainbow of Colors
The Iris plant is actually not one plant at all, but several different kinds of subspecies—more than 300. It comes in almost all colors and can be found in most continents in the world. The Fleur de Lis of France is an Iris as is the flower you see on the helmet of the New Orleans Saints football team. It is a favorite of gardeners in the Northern hemisphere and can be seen in gardens from Japan to England to the United States. It grows well and since different Irises bloom at different times of year, provides the variety of color size and shape that gardener’s love.
Three Amazing Types of Iris Plant
With so many to choose from it is difficult to pick favorites, but for the sake of variety, here are three that I find particularly beautiful and that will give you a sense of the range of this flower:
Japanese Irises: Japanese Irises are quite beautiful; they usually come in combinations of purple and white often mixing the two to beautiful effect. In one that I find particularly stunning, the leaf of the Iris is like a flame with the inner wick of yellow, surrounded by an outer white tongue and then a thick beautiful border of deep purple!
If you want to visit great Iris gardens, you might want to book a trip to Japan where you will find more than 200 robust Iris gardens. There are well-attended Iris societies in both Japan and the U.S. as well.
The Blood Iris: The Algerian Blood Iris draws you in with its very name. It is a flower so purple that even Prince would have had his fill. On the inside of this flower there is a yellow centipede like stamen that sticks out like a tongue. It is a truly wonderful natural creation!
The Common German Iris: This is the most common type of Iris plant in the North American Garden and it is simple and beautiful in itself.
Other Cool and Wondrous Facts About the Iris
Perfumes: The Iris is used in some perfumes and for aromatherapy.
Most Famous Iris Garden in the World: The most famous Iris garden in the world is in Florence, Italy and is well worth the visit if you happen to be in the area.
Medical Uses: Irises are also used in some medicines and in some cases as a traditional method of helping babies teethe. (Don’t try this without consulting your pediatrician.)
Poisonous to House Pets: This is not really that cool, but you should also know that Irises are poisonous to house pets. So keep Socks out of the garden if you are growing these wondrous flowers.
This is hardly a comprehensive look at the Iris plant. Once you begin to explore the beauties and wonders of this flower, you will find a whole new world has opened to you. As the young Greek girls were transported into another world in ancient mythology, so will you be. Beware!