The iris in a bunch
A white cut iris is usually a Dutch iris, a bulb-grown hybrid raised from crosses begun in 1891 that included the Spanish iris. Bulbs can be forced under glass, so Dutch irises appear in the shops long before they would flower outdoors. The plant grows to around 60cm and has little scent. Besides white it comes in blue, purple, yellow and bronze, and 'White Excelsior' is a white cultivar. In the garden, flowering falls in May and June.
Three up, three down
Every iris flower has three upright petals, called standards, and three that curve outwards, called falls. With no strong colour to distract, white shows this structure best. Many white irises have a yellow patch on the falls, and it is this detail that gives them their character.
Using white iris
- With tulips, narcissi and gypsophila in a spring bunch
- In a simple vase of three or four stems with a little greenery
- For a First Communion or Confirmation table, when white is traditional
- At a wedding, where the clean upright shape works in a tall vase
Names and symbols
Iris is named for the Greek rainbow goddess, and a stylised iris is thought by some to lie behind the fleur-de-lis emblem.
For pet owners
The ASPCA says irises are toxic to dogs, cats and horses, mainly through the rhizome, causing salivation, vomiting, lethargy and diarrhoea.
