What flowers do irises go with in the flowerbed, what should they plant next to them. Bearded irises, where and how to plant them? What flowers can be planted next to irises?

Perennial flowers occupy a leading position in the design of a suburban area. Among them, irises are not overlooked. Their varied shapes and colors mean that plants always find a place in flower beds. You just need to pay attention to what flowers the irises go with in the flower beds and arrange the crops according to the design rules.

Rhizomatous plants are perennials. Many flower hybrids have been developed. In addition to the color of the petals, they differ from each other in size, flowering time, and soil requirements. There are 2 types of garden crops.


Bearded flowers include those flowers whose petals are arranged in 2 tiers. The outer 3 are slightly lowered down, and the upper ones are raised by a dome. And on the outer lobes of the flower there are hairs that form a “beard”.

The decorative crop includes about 25 thousand varieties from short (35 centimeters) to tall (70 centimeters).

All types of irises differ in the color of their petals. There are solid colors or different colors. Some petals are colored in different shades. Beautiful iridescent inflorescences, decorated with a contrasting border. A feature of the species is the superficial root system, the constant movement of plants as they grow. Bearded hybrids are widely used in flower beds, mixborders, and ridges.

The group of beardless plants has a similar structure of petals, without hairs, but decorated with bright spots. The color of wild species is yellow. And this color remains dominant in many varieties. Hybrids with purple, blue, and white colors have been bred.

The requirements for growing conditions for types of ornamental crops are different. Therefore, when planting irises in flower beds, the characteristics of each variety are taken into account.

Using irises in garden design

The peculiarity of flowers is that they can be used in garden design of any style. Irises are planted in flower beds, combined with other plants. Sometimes flower beds are created from only irises. This form is called iridarium.

The plants are unpretentious to the soil. They take root well on rocky slopes. They can be used to decorate alpine slides and rockeries. In this case, low plants are suitable. Low-growing varieties of crops will make the framing of paths bright and unusual.

There are types of irises that thrive in wetlands. They choose a place near water bodies. Some varieties of swamp hybrids develop in water. Rock gardens with coniferous trees and shrubs are best enlivened with brightly blooming irises.

What colors go with irises in a flower bed?

When starting to plant flowers, you need to know that the root system of ornamental plants is located next to the surface of the earth. It is worth paying attention to such color combinations so that neighbors do not interfere with each other’s proper development.

Suitable for planting iris rose. The queen bushes of the garden begin to bloom later than the irises, but the greenery of the stems will become an additional decoration of the rose garden. You can choose plants by color. So, white and blue flowers will be a wonderful complement to red roses or poppies. Plants are planted at a distance of 1 meter.

Decorative culture gets along well with daylilies. Both types of representatives of garden flowers have a superficial root system, so they coexist amicably.

Bearded and beardless species are combined with other plants:

  • spirea;
  • conifers;
  • lupins;
  • pansies;
  • delphiniums.

Varieties with delicate petals should be planted in sunny, open places. This is especially true for bearded species. Beardless plants tolerate partial shade.

Choosing a neighborhood for dwarf and moisture-loving irises

Stems 35-40 centimeters high are harmonious next to stones. Therefore, this is the best choice for arranging alpine slides and rockeries. You can plant dwarf varieties of phlox and crocus nearby. The flowers look interesting against the background of juniper.

For moisture-loving species, there is no better place on the shore of an artificial or natural reservoir. Siberian and Japanese flower species develop well near water. And swamp varieties can be planted directly in shallow water. Caring for such plants is easy, as they are unpretentious. Typically, beardless specimens of ornamental crops are chosen for shady places. Bearded plants will not be able to bloom in the shade.

Monoflowers with irises (iridariums)

Lovers of flowering perennials can arrange flower beds using only irises. For this purpose, varieties with different flowering periods are selected. So bright inflorescences will delight with unusual colors from May to July.

You can arrange flower beds on a lawn or lawn. Bushes of bearded flowers add variety to the greenery of the grass.

When making a group of identical flowers, they are selected according to the color of the petals. It is better to place the varieties at a short distance, filling the gap with pebbles or colored stones. Plants should not be planted in a row; asymmetry is needed. You can decorate the iridarium with a carved fence and forged items. Bergenia greens will be an excellent addition to plants in a monoflower garden.

An incredibly popular garden decoration with a subtle aroma, it is known all over the world. People conveyed their reverent attitude towards the flower representative of the flora with the gentle name “killer whale”. Large buds grow on elegant stems, framed by a luxurious fan of leaves. Flowers were favorites of famous artists such as Monet and Van Gogh. A perennial sun-loving plant native to southern countries. Its unpretentiousness, decorativeness and huge variety of shapes, shades, and varieties make the iris a welcome guest in any style of landscape design.

The flowering period does not last long, but the plant retains its decorative effect even after it. Some species begin flowering in May, others in June. The plant takes virtually no time to care for the gardener, while giving a beautiful, delicate appearance and aroma. The flower is universal: it is used in almost all garden compositions, group and single plantings. He is a wonderful “neighbor”, gets along well and blends with many cultures. Conventionally, the plant is divided into three groups:

  • dwarf (up to 45 cm). A popular element of alpine slides and rockeries;
  • medium height (45-75 cm). A frequent “guest” in group plantings;
  • tall (75 cm or more). A wonderful decoration of the banks of reservoirs.

Irises fill the free period of time between the blooming of spring and summer flowers with their beauty. This is a real rainbow in the garden! Proud and graceful beauty can transform the most gray and nondescript corner into a paradise.

Use in landscape design

In suburban areas with a large territory in the Art Nouveau style, you can find entire gardens of iris - iridarium. Mandatory attributes of this style are not only the presence of large quantities of irises, but also a source of water, stone and garden furniture made from traditional materials. When choosing a varietal variety for an iridarium, the size, color, beginning, duration of flowering and harmonious combination with other plants are taken into account.

In the Art Nouveau style, a group planting of irises decorates various water sources, creating an incredibly beautiful landscape reflected in the water and harmoniously combined with stone.

After all, even a small stream can play the role of decorating a garden. In this case, irises use two varieties - smooth and swamp. They bring the landscape as close as possible to its original natural appearance. This is a real vacation spot. At the pond, irises are combined with representatives of conifers - thujas or dwarf pine. The marsh and Siberian varieties are located closer to the water. The free space between the plants is filled with pebbles or stone chips.

Multicolor compositions can also be found in flower beds

Due to its short flowering time, the plant is combined with other later flowering crops to create an evenly changing pattern. Planting iris in small groups can be done in a decorative basket, which is buried shallowly in the ground. Irises grow beautifully and add a spectacular appearance to the landscape. If desired, it can be dug up after flowering, and annual garden plants can be planted in the vacant space. With enough free space, every gardener can present his collection of irises in full glory. A skillfully chosen color scheme is important. Plants with two or more shades are planted only if there is a solid background. Mixing multicolored colors is undesirable. The background for multi-colored species can be pine needles, hosta and other plants of calm shades.

Irises are actively used as a tapeworm

To do this, several units of different colors are planted. For example, purple, pure white and white-violet iris. Choose a well-groomed lawn, a building wall, or a non-flowering shrub as a background. Another option for tapeworm is planting irises in height. Tall, medium-sized and dwarf elements are used. The distance between them should be at least 50 cm. This harmonious composition against the background of dark soil or peat chips will look even more elegant.

Irises also decorate rockeries. Dwarf varieties grow on a stone hill. The “neighbors” of iris can be crocuses, saxifrage, sedums, phlox and tulips. In a stone flower garden with junipers, irises in brown, purple and yellow shades are used as the main background. If the background is light stones, then preference is given to iris of burgundy and dark blue colors. Sometimes rockeries are also decorated with medium-sized irises, such as bearded irises. This rare exception appears only if it does not violate the proportions.

Compatibility with other plants

After flowering, a flowerbed of irises can look casual and simple. To revive it, annual and perennial plants are planted. An important condition for compatibility is that the root system of other elements must be deeper than that of iris. Astilbe, hosta, heuchera, Virginia tradescantia, and awl-shaped phlox are suitable for this role.

Among conifers, grateful “neighbors” are juniper, pyramidal and dwarf spruce, and thuja. A beautiful background for irises is created by flowering shrubs: spirea, rhododendrons, barberries. Against the background of shrubs, it is better to create monotypic groups of irises, no more than one. The groups are placed in the form of a certain geometric figure near or around a tall plant.

Reproduction, planting and care

A common method of propagating irises is vegetative. Transplantation begins during the period of active development of the root system: late spring and late summer. In spring, plants are replanted only by experienced gardeners, because at this time the roots are very fragile and can be damaged. In autumn they are more fibrous. The most suitable period is different for each species. In the most famous bearded iris, it occurs every 6-7 years; more growing species require replanting after 3 years. A less popular method is seed propagation. It is not as effective and takes a lot of time. This is a suitable method for species representatives, with varietal irises - this is a real experiment.

Planting occurs after flowering. Then the plant has a higher chance of taking root. The most suitable period is early autumn. It is important to consider the location of other crops nearby, because the iris needs sufficient area for the development of the root system. They do not like stagnant moisture, so the hole must have good drainage. The plant is sun-loving and grows and develops better in rich soils. Fertilizers are applied to poor soil at least three times. Bearded iris is planted on raised soil - ridges. This way it can be protected from insect pests and various diseases.

After planting, the iris is watered, and in places with a hot climate, the ridge is sprinkled with a small layer of sand. It reflects the sun's rays and does not allow moisture to quickly evaporate. During this season, irises are treated against an abundance of pests. Use insecticide and fungicide. An important period after transplantation is the first month. If everything is done correctly, then after 30 days the plant takes root and new leaves begin to appear. Gardeners inspect the bushes daily to exclude egg-laying insects. Before wintering, the leaves are cut off, leaving no more than 5 cm. Then the bush is covered with sand and peat, forming a low mound.

Video - Planting Irises

You can create a beautiful environment in any garden plot based on the rules of landscape design. The areas designed by the designer look very harmonious. But even a simple gardener can cope with the task using the basics of landscape design.

Important! When developing a project, you should not try to collect a large number of different plants on the site or try to combine several styles at once.

Three rules of landscape design

Landscape design is based on three rules:

  1. Unity of style.
  2. Simplicity of design.
  3. Dominant rule.

If you are guided by them, then you need to act according to the following scheme:

Flowerbed with irises

  1. The style of the site must correspond to the style in which the house and outbuildings are made.
  2. You should not overload the area with details, especially if it is small. The created composition should bring a feeling of joy and peace.
  3. The project should be based on an object that will play the main role, the rest will be subordinate to it. If the territory allows, you can create several similar compositions.

Interesting. The variety of colors of irises allows them to be widely used in landscape design.

Depending on the variety, flowering lasts from May to July. In order for the flowerbed to have a blooming appearance for as long as possible, it is necessary to select the appropriate varieties. Thus, flowering can be achieved within 2.5 months.

How to plant irises in the garden

How to plant irises in the garden

There are several tips to help create a harmonious flower bed:

  • Low-growing varieties, whose height does not exceed 40 cm, look harmonious next to stones. They are used when arranging rock gardens or rock gardens.
  • Medium-sized varieties, the height of which varies from 40 to 70 cm, are used for arranging mixed flower beds.
  • Tall varieties that grow more than 70 cm are planted next to buildings or on the banks of artificial reservoirs.

Interesting. When choosing an environment, you should pay attention to some nuances. The root system of these flowers is located close to the soil surface. In this regard, you cannot plant perennial plants that grow quickly and can crowd them out. Also, these flowers love sunlight and do not tolerate shading very well.

Bearded varieties are more demanding to care for. It is necessary to ensure that there is enough space for their growth, and from 7 to 9 leaves are laid. Only in this case can abundant flowering be achieved. Agricultural technology for growing Siberian and swamp representatives does not require special measures.

Flower arrangements

Interesting. When decorating a flower bed, you can use several schemes. Thus, bearded representatives look advantageous against the background of the lawn. You can also plant flowers of several colors. A good combination is single-color varieties planted together with two-tone irises, when one of the tones matches the color of a single-color iris.

The plantings bordering the pond look interesting. In addition, they love moisture. It creates the feeling of a natural corner. Don’t forget about compositions with other plants.

What to plant next to irises? There are a large number of combinations, but there are also compositions that should be avoided:

Flower arrangements

  • u Irises of similar shades do not look attractive in a group planting.
  • u Varieties with pale flowers, when planted together with irises of bright colors, get lost and do not fit into the overall picture.
  • u Joint plantings of two-color specimens of different varieties look very colorful and not harmonious.
  • u Dark-colored irises do not combine with other dark colors.

By excluding such combinations, you can create beautiful flower beds. It is important to take into account the flowering time of the planted plants so that the flower bed pleases the eye throughout the season.

What do irises go with in a flower bed? Joint plantings with lupins or delphinium look beautiful. A good combination with lilies and poppies. At the same time, they do not harm each other, since the root system of these plants penetrates the soil to different levels. It is preferable to plant such compositions in the center of the flowerbed; grow low pansies or marigolds at the edge; forget-me-nots are also suitable.

Roses also go well with them. The latter only benefit from this. The greenery near the rose covers the bare stems of the queen of the garden. When planting irises on the banks of artificial reservoirs, it will be successful to plant them together with a swimsuit; a hosta is also appropriate. Other plants that grow well in moist soils will also be suitable.

Important! You can create amazing compositions, but you should not combine flowers with similar shades next to each other.

Flowerbed with irises and daylilies

An excellent option for a flower bed is the joint planting of irises and daylilies. Irises themselves look quite harmonious, but when the flowering period ends, the flowerbed will remain idle. Daylilies and lilies will complement it perfectly:

  • Firstly, they do not interfere with each other’s growth, since their root systems are at different depths.
  • Secondly, they will not shade irises. Delphinium with its abundant foliage will not only create shade, but in rainy weather it may fall on them due to excess moisture. Phlox are also not the best neighbors, as they are often affected by rust, which is dangerous for irises.

Interesting. A color solution for such a composition can always be found, thanks to the large selection of varieties and colors of both colors.

Bearded irises

Bearded irises are very common in landscape design. They combine several classes and are the largest group. They differ in height, which must be taken into account when using them in landscape design.

It is very interesting to create an iradarium in the garden. This is a flower garden that is built on a composition from one culture. Its dimensions correspond to the size of an average flower bed.

Bearded irises

Irises are in demand in garden landscape design. With the help of successful iris combinations, your garden design can be completely transformed. In the iridarium you can place several varieties of irises of different colors. Plantings are carried out in groups, the gap between them is filled with small stones. At the same time, do not forget to leave free space, which will be filled by overgrown plants as they grow.

The boundaries can be either fuzzy or limited by stones of various sizes.

Interesting. The Iridarium will look harmonious even on a retaining wall.

You can supplement such a flower garden with the help of cereals, but you should not be zealous; 2-3 groups of cereals are enough. Ceramics or various forgings are used to decorate the iridarium. These can be vessels of various shapes, original benches and bridges, a carved fence.

How to plant irises beautifully? Additional decorations of the iridarium are very important - the flowering period of irises is not very long. The rest of the time, the flower garden will simply delight the eye with greenery. Therefore, the introduction of additional elements is necessary.

Bearded irises amaze with their beauty and diversity - they can be either one-color or two-color, two-tone, iridescent and bordered. With their help, it is easy to decorate the landscape, creating a bright flower garden from it.

Irises in mixborders

An interesting combination of irises with other flowers in the flowerbed. When designing a multi-flowered flower bed with irises, you should grow plants that have a root system that goes deep, this will allow the irises to receive a sufficient amount of nutrients.

Irises in mixborders

The mixborder with irises is noteworthy. Their plantings look beautiful in company with coniferous plants or bushes. Spring flower beds also look good with tulips. It should be taken into account that there should be sufficient distance between plants so that when digging up tulip bulbs, it does not harm the rhizomes of irises.

What to combine a flowerbed of irises with? They look harmonious in company with spirea. In this case, they should be planted around the bush in small groups of the same color, bordering the entire bush. A successful combination of white peonies with brightly colored irises.

In general, the iris is a flower that looks good in both large and small plantings. These noble flowers have extraordinary beauty and are unlike others. They are simply created to be a bright accent of every area.

Irises are loved by most gardeners, and this love is not without reason. These perennial flowers are absolutely undemanding in care, but at the same time they delight the owner of the iridarium to the fullest! A riot of colors, the uniqueness of complex shapes, a variety of varieties, the versatility of flowerbed design - all this can be found in the iris garden.

Iridarium is one of the types of garden in which irises are grown in proximity to other specially selected crops. An iris garden has its own characteristic features: the obligatory presence of a pond, beautiful stones, gravel backfill, and clear-shaped garden furniture.

Irises are wonderful flowers to surround a pond, to fit their shapes into the refined lines of the garden. Complex forms of irises will emphasize the style of the site, diversify the color scheme and decorate the space even if flowering has not yet begun.

When you select irises for the iridarium, keep in mind that it will be better if dark varieties are planted on a light background, and light varieties on a dark one. The more complex the composition, built on the nuances of color and shape, the more elegant your iris garden will look.

If you like two-color varieties of irises, then I advise you to plant them against a background of monochromatic plants. You should not mix two two-color varieties in one flowerbed. Two-color irises will look great against the background of monochromatic plants with discreet foliage or even against the background of conifers.

When planting irises, pay attention to the height of the variety. Dwarf plants are planted closer to each other than medium-sized and tall ones. Accordingly, the distances between flowers should be 10-15, 15-20 and 35-40 cm.

The following secret is common among experienced iris growers: in order for the iris division to develop better, plant the rhizome in the south direction.

Transplantation and thinning

Irises should be replanted every 3-4 years, so it is very important to maintain sufficient distance between individuals so that they have enough nutrition. For the same purpose, they need to be fed regularly. For the beauty of the flower bed, you want to plant the plants closer - in this case, once a year you will need to do thinning, freeing the area from excess rhizomes.

Setting up an iridarium at the dacha

For an iridarium, in addition to different varieties of irises, you can use trees and shrubs: thuja, juniper, hemlock, and dogwood.

Flowers that get along well with irises: astilbe, chickweed, xyphium, poppy, heuchera, sweet pea, Tradescantia virginiana, phlox, meconopsis, hosta.

A small iridarium can be created using river pebbles, sawn slate and the above plants. To construct a pond, you will need a ready-made mold or special polyethylene (you can read more about constructing a pond). The banks of the pond can be decorated with sawn slate.

Soil preparation consists of digging and carefully selecting weeds. We plant dogwood and thuja (in groups), flowers. We plant marsh irises closer to the pond, Siberian and sword-shaped irises further. We decorate the soil with pebbles.

Irises are one of my favorite flowers in my garden. Why? I am always delighted by the beauty of bearded irises, even the standard violet-lilac color. When you start to look at the flower, you are amazed at the variety of shades and color transitions, the combination of different types of petals - delicate upper ones (standards) and rich lower ones (fouls) with a bright yellow beard and a pattern of light veins. Everything about irises is beautiful - from luxurious flowers to a fan of leaves and buds on a stem that shoots upward.

Iris (Iris) or iris belongs to the Iris family (Iridaceae). There are many species of these spectacular ones in the world, some of which are almost completely unknown to gardeners from Russia. But bearded irises know everything. They differ in growth, flowering time and color. Different countries use different classifications of irises, but I will not describe it. This information can be found in articles by iris growers. I will just write about how I grow irises and replant their overgrown nests on my own.


I’ve recently grown irises on mine, but I’ve already planted them several times. Until last year I had only 2 varieties, and you can see their photos. This summer, 11 more varieties will bloom; there were 12, but one did not survive the winter. In June I will definitely post photos of varietal bearded irises that will bloom this year.

I bought my first irises at the market from my grandmothers, so I don’t know the variety. And why would I, if I’m not going to sell them? In recent years, they have grown into beautiful bushes, which have to be divided periodically, every 3-5 years. They look very decorative next to, shading the greenery of coniferous plants with bright purple and lilac shades.


I acquired another variety with burgundy foils (lower petals), lighter-colored standards (upper petals) and a bright yellow beard; it didn’t want to bloom for a couple of years, but then it took root and began to delight others with its bright colors. In the photo he is against the background of buzulnik leaves, but the place is not very good. I have already replanted, so this year the burgundy irises can be admired from different angles.

When and how to plant irises

Irises can be replanted 2 weeks after flowering, until new root growth begins. You can do it later in your flower garden. And the second time for replanting is mid-August to early September, when the young rhizomes of the current year with a fan of leaves have already formed. In principle, you can divide the nests on your own in the spring, but there is little hope that they will bloom profusely this summer.


Irises - planting

You can dig up the entire bush and divide it with a sharp knife into divisions - parts of the current year's rhizome with a fan of leaves. But instead of digging up the entire bush, you can use a knife to separate the necessary part of the plant, carefully digging it up and replanting it in a new place. You can also cut the rhizomes into smaller pieces, preferably with two buds, to propagate a valuable variety.

They sell divisions with a trimmed fan of leaves and trimmed roots. They can be stored in a dry place for several days. If the division is large, with a fan of at least 7 leaves, then it will bloom next spring. With a fan of less than 7 leaves, the plant will bloom a year later. And large rhizomes take root better, because they contain more nutrients.

When transplanting, I plant irises immediately after digging them up, without letting the roots dry out, so I don’t trim the roots and fan of leaves. I dig a hole along the length of the roots, and pour a mound of earth in the center. I put the rhizome on a mound, distribute the roots evenly in the hole, cover it with soil, compact it with my hand and water it well. It is very important that the iris rhizome is visible above the surface by half or one third; it cannot be completely covered with soil.


Some iris lovers advise that when planting, be sure to direct the rhizome to the south, leaving a fan of leaves on the north side. I think this is correct, especially in those regions where there are few sunny days and it often rains. If the place is dry enough, you can plant as convenient. For example, a group of several irises can be planted in a circle with the rhizomes inward, so that the nests, growing in width, do not interfere with each other. Tall ones are best planted at a distance of 40-50 cm.

How to grow irises

Bearded irises love sunny places, but also bloom well in sparse shade. In the southern regions they can be planted in openwork shade under trees. Any soil is suitable, except highly acidic and damp, but neutral and slightly acidic are better. They prefer loams rich in nutrients. Apart from grass mulch, I don’t use any fertilizers; I water it rarely, but plentifully. After all, bearded irises do not tolerate constant dampness.


Bearded irises come in different heights and can be used in different flower beds. Low-growing ones are very good as a border along paths. Medium-sized ones are good in ridges, flower beds and mixborders in the middle ground. Tall plants are spectacular in groups on the lawn and in the background of flower beds. Irises have such a variety of luxurious colors and shades that few flowers can compare with them.

If you haven’t tried growing bearded irises in your garden, be sure to give it a try - it’s very simple. And magnificent flowers will delight you in May and June, especially if you choose varieties with different flowering periods.

You can view the photos of irises below in enlarged form by clicking on them. This photo is from 2013.




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