Iris ‘Quechee’ (Bearded Iris)

Distinctive in form and color, Iris ‘Quechee’ features large, attractive, garnet-red flowers adorned with golden yellow centers and a thick bronze beard. Borne on tall stems, the flowers have a slight chocolate scent. They do not burn or fade under hot sun and grace the garden for weeks each spring. The eye-catching blooms of this heirloom iris (introduced in 1947) rise with majesty up to 36 inches high (90 cm) atop a lovely sword-shaped foliage which will continue to add interest in the landscape after flowering is over. A midseason bloomer.

• Easy to grow, it is deer and rabbit resistant, and quite drought tolerant once established.
• Profuse bloomer, it will bring its glorious and glamorous blooms in late spring or early summer over a long blooming period. Please note that bloom times depend very much on the weather.
• Performs best in full sun in humus rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Tolerates light shade, but best flowering and disease resistance occur in full sun. Good soil drainage is essential to prevent rot issues.
• Grows from creeping rhizomes which store food produced by the sword-shaped leaves and forms large clumps over time
• A welcomed addition to herbaceous borders, sunny courtyards or urban gardens where the sword-like foliage and vibrant color will combine harmoniously with the stones and angular hardscaping. Roses also provide a lovely backdrop for this tall variety.
• The best time to plant bearded irises is July through September. Container-grown iris can be planted in the spring.
• All parts may cause discomfort if ingested. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.

Bearded irises are classified by height and flower size into 6 groups. Since these groups bloom at slightly different time, combining specimens from different groups will extend your color display for a couple of weeks.