Iris ‘Alida’

Iris Dwarf Alida has single, fragrant, sky blue to bright blue flowerheads with sepals or exterior petals with a central band of yellow (a marked central yellow ridge) that is spotted with blue freckles accompanied by slender four-sided foliage that can grow up to 30cm. Feathered inner petals or standard are often of a paler sky-blue shade and rise up out of the centre of the bloom fluttering like a butterfly.

Fragrant blooms of fabulous sky-blue hues, hardy Iris Dwarf Alida are flowering plants herald the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Plant at the fronts of beds or borders and excellent for planting in pots, containers or in window boxes and can be used as a cut flower for bouquets and arrangements.

Two of the most popular and well-known Iris varieties are composed of dwarf varietals (Iris Dwarf) and Dutch Irises (Iris hollandica). Dwarf Irises begin the season of flowering Iris in February and March and the Dutch Iris varieties bloom towards the beginning of summer around June. Iris are favoured ornamental flowering plants that present a rainbow of colours and distinct differences in their bloom structure.

Dwarf Irises are inclined to naturalise areas and are clump-forming. Dutch Iris are often thought of flowering blooms used with the intention of cut flowers and have more grass-like foliage. Dwarf and Dutch Irises species grow from a bulb and while similar to a bulb, other varieties of Iris are grown from a rhizome.

Iris bulbs are mostly planted in the autumn for wonderful hues of coloured Spring splendour. Dwarf and Dutch Irises prefer fertile, well-drained soils that are located in full sun to partial shade. Most Dwarf and Dutch species should be planted at average depths of 10cm.

Irish tend to prefer soils that are neutral with some individual variation depending upon the specific species. Allow foliage to die back down naturally after the bloom has been cut or fades away, this is an essential component of the cycle of energy storage and ensures that bulbs will be able to produce blooms again for the following season.