Jewel-toned iris with bold blue petals

Did you know?

Irises are among the world's most celebrated flowers, named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow for their remarkable range of hues. The iris has inspired artists and garden enthusiasts for millennia—the ancient Egyptians cultivated them, and Japanese and Dutch masters immortalized them in paint. Known for their distinctive bearded or crested petals and sword-like foliage, irises typically bloom in spring and early summer, with varieties ranging from tiny dwarf forms to tall bearded cultivars that can exceed three feet in height. Their layered petal structure, with upright 'standards' and drooping 'falls,' makes them endlessly rewarding subjects for fiber artists.