Re-Blooming Bearded Iris - His Royal Highness

Re-Blooming Bearded Iris - His Royal Highness

The Re-Blooming Bearded Iris - His Royal Highness is a majestic and elegant variety that brings stunning color and beauty to any garden. With its rich, royal purple blooms and striking golden beards, this iris variety offers both visual appeal and an extended bloom period, making it a perfect choice for gardeners looking to add a regal touch to their landscape.

Key Benefits

• Stunning Color: Deep purple petals with golden-yellow beards create a dramatic and regal appearance in the garden.
• Re-Blooming: Enjoy multiple blooms throughout the growing season, extending the beauty of this iris well into late summer or fall.
• Hardy & Low Maintenance: Tolerates a variety of soil types and growing conditions, making it ideal for both novice and experienced gardeners.
• Perfect for Borders & Flower Beds: Its tall, sturdy stems and vibrant blooms make it an excellent choice for flower borders or mixed perennial beds.
• Attracts Pollinators: The showy flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, bringing life and activity to your garden.

Variety Features

• Plant Characteristics: Tall, upright stems with large, striking flowers. The blooms are a rich purple with a contrasting golden-yellow beard in the center of each petal.
• Flower Profile: Iris flowers are composed of six segments, three upright (standards) and three drooping (falls), creating an elegant, symmetrical shape.
• Size: Reaches heights of 30–36 inches with blooms that typically span 3–5 inches in diameter.
• Growth Habit: Iris plants grow in clumps, and with proper care, they can spread to form beautiful, dense flower patches.

Planting Instructions

Planting Season:

• Best planted in early spring or fall, ensuring the bulbs are placed well before the frost sets in for fall planting.
• Thrives in well-drained soil, and needs a period of cold dormancy during winter.

Planting Details:

• Depth: Plant rhizomes horizontally, with the top of the rhizome just below the soil surface.
• Spacing: Space plants 12–18 inches apart to allow for optimal air circulation and room for growth.
• Soil Requirements: Prefers well-drained, moderately fertile soil with a pH of 6.0–7.0. Avoid soggy soil.
• Sunlight: Needs full sun for best performance. It can tolerate some light shade but will bloom best in direct sunlight.

Care Instructions

Watering:

• Water moderately, ensuring the soil stays moist but not waterlogged. Be careful not to let water accumulate around the rhizomes, as this can lead to rot.
• Reduce watering once the plant has entered dormancy in late fall.

Fertilization:

• Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring before the growing season begins.
• Avoid fertilizing during the blooming phase, as it can lead to weaker stems and fewer blooms.

Weeding & Mulching:

• Keep the area around the plants weed-free to prevent competition for nutrients.
• Light mulching can help maintain soil moisture and suppress weed growth, but avoid covering the rhizomes with mulch.

Deadheading & Pruning:

• Remove spent flowers to encourage new blooms, but avoid cutting back the plant’s leaves until they begin to naturally die back in the fall.
• Cut back dead foliage and clean up the plant after blooming to prevent disease buildup.

Pest and Disease Control

Pests: Keep an eye out for aphids or iris borers. Use insecticidal soap or organic pest control methods if necessary. Diseases: Iris plants are susceptible to fungal diseases, including iris rot and rust. Ensure good air circulation around the plant and avoid overwatering to reduce the risk.

Harvesting

Maturity: His Royal Highness Iris typically begins blooming in late spring and continues into fall with re-blooming cycles.

• Method: Flowers can be cut for indoor arrangements when fully open. For maximum freshness, cut stems in the morning and place them in water immediately.

Storage

Short-Term: Fresh cut flowers can last for up to a week in a vase. Long-Term: Rhizomes can be stored in a cool, dry place over winter until ready for planting in spring or fall.

Culinary Uses

Although Re-Blooming Bearded Iris - His Royal Highness is primarily a decorative plant, its striking beauty is often enjoyed in floral arrangements or as an ornamental feature in the garden.

Conclusion

The Re-Blooming Bearded Iris - His Royal Highness offers both visual and functional appeal in any garden. Its regal purple blooms, re-blooming nature, and hardiness make it an ideal choice for adding year-round beauty to flower beds or borders. With minimal care requirements and long-lasting blooms, it is perfect for gardeners seeking both elegance and ease of maintenance. Add this striking variety to your garden for an eye-catching display that will delight year after year.