Iris Flower Information

The vivid blue purple to a mesmerizing yellow is what an iris flower offers to the beholder. These flowers are deeply seeped in the Greek mythology. Popular spring flowers, they make for excellent garden flowers either as a single flower or a mass bedding one.

Iris Flower

The showy iris and all species of this genus (botanically also known as iris) belong to the family Iridaceae. Native of North Temperate regions of the world, they habitat a wide ranging places such as cold, grassy slopes, meadows, riverbanks and deserts. The elegant purple colored iris was designated as the Tennessee state cultivated flower by the Legislature in 1933. There is no mention about the purple colored one in the legislation, but it is commonly accepted as the state flower among other colors. History and meanings of iris flowers are rich and very diverse.

Meaning: Traditionally an iris flower denotes faith, hope, wisdom, courage and admiration. Each color and region to add to its meaning. Dark purple (or blue) refers to royalty, while the yellow iris; passion, and white denotes sympathy or remembrance. Iris is the flower of the birth month February.

Symbolism: Iris takes its name from the Greek word which means a rainbow. Iris is the name of the Greek Goddess, the Messenger of the Gods (sometimes love) and a symbolic representation of the rainbow. The Goddess Iris is believed to guide dead women who had purple irises planted over the graves in their eternal journey. Each color symbolizes different feelings; purple for wisdom, white for purity, and yellow for passion.

How to Grow Iris Flowers

An iris is easy to grow, easy to flower and quite low on maintenance. An iris plant is propagated through seeds, or rhizome division and plantation. Division of roots is a much more common way to grow this flower, as seeds have a higher failure rate and take longer to seed. Although a spring flower, there are varieties that bloom in winter (with a little care and protection from frost), in spring and in the summers too.

For growing iris, the soil medium should be porous and well drained. Try to maintain soil pH at 6.8, but iris being an easy grower is tolerant to most soil conditions except heavy water logging ones. Plant iris rhizomes that have at least two leaf sprouts. The rhizomes top should be exposed and depending on the variety spaced 15 to 24 inches apart. Watering depends on climatic conditions and soil type. Deep watering at long intervals is recommended than frequent watering. A light application of fertilizer about a month before and after bloom is only what an iris needs. An iris should be thinned every 3 - 4 years to avoid overcrowding. Once the bloom has been spent, cut stems close to the ground to promote growth of healthy new green leaves.

A bouquet of iris flowers, a stand-alone color or mixed, or as part of flower arrangements can be a delightful experience for the giver as well as the receiver. As these flowers and its colors signify or denote specific meaning, they are suitable for many occasions.