IRIS GERMANICA ‘RAJAH’

JUNE is the month for bearded irises. Superb in full flower, these come in a vast colour range with stiff stems and large, shapely flowers.

The petals of the modern varieties tend to be ruched or rippled. Older varieties have classic ‘fleur-de-lys’ flowers, often with contrasting petals.

A favourite is I. germanica Rajah, with its lemon yellow upper petals or standards and handsome veined mahogany falls. The modern variety Thundering Ovation has white standards and rusty red falls.

Bearded irises prefer full sun and well-drained soil. They should always be planted with the knobbly rhizomes resting on the surface.