Though art the Iris, fair amongst the fairest,    
Who, armed with a golden rod
And Winged with the celestial azure, bearest
The message of some God.

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“Iris” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807-1882

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There are somewhere between 250 and 310 recognized species of iris, making it one of the most diverse and versatile flowers there is. Iris are visually arresting, too; the popular bearded iris can reach three-feet high and its distinctive six-petaled flowers have three outer hanging petals (called falls) and three inner upright petals (called standards.) In addition to being popular in both private and public gardens, their significance dates back to ancient Greece, through Continental Europe, and to Japan.

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Iris signifies “message,” as Iris was the messenger of the ancient Greek gods who appeared to mortals as a rainbow, flitting across the sky. (Fittingly, iris come in a multitude of colours and have a short blooming period, like a rainbow.) Shakespeare referred to the iris, Vincent Van Gogh and Georgia O’Keeffe immortalized them in their paintings, and Sigmund Freud used the flower in psychoanalysis. The iris is a familiar image in Western art, frequently used in Christian iconography; its swordlike leaves were especially employed as a symbol for Mary's suffering. The best known of the beardless rhizomatous group of iris, the water-loving Japanese iris, has enormous exotic flowers reaching up to eight-inches across, which look like a colourful butterfly caught in mid-flight. They are frequently featured in Japanese ikebana arrangements and watercolour paintings. 

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Iris is the official flower of both France and Quebec, as well as the city of Florence. The yellow iris that grows in the shallows of the Lys river in France was used by the Kings of France who adopted the “fleur de lys” as it is known, as a royal emblem. The fleur de lys is usually gold on a blue background, representing the yellow flower on the river. There are legends that it has saved many lives when soldiers in battle knew that it grew in the shallows, and therefore it was safe to cross the river where it bloomed. Its use on the shield or coat of arms of the French kings dates to the twelfth century, with Louis VI. His blue shield was strewn with golden fleurs de lys, and the symbol appeared on the flag of France for several centuries. The iris’ three distinct petals resembled swords, they thought, and represented the trio of French values: Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité (Liberty, Equality and Fraternity).

IRIS IN ART

In the United States, painter Georgia O'Keeffe's famous irises were an important preoccupation for many years; she favored the black iris, which she could only find at certain New York florists for about two weeks each spring. Unlike Impressionist's flower painting, such as Irises by Vincent Van Gogh, O'Keeffe's paintings were enlarged, often depicting a single flower, and were said to symbolize the unity of the feminine and the natural order, a popular idea in the 1920s and ’30s. Her 1926 masterpiece Black Iris, shocking in its day, can now be viewed at New York’s The Met Fifth Avenue. 

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FAMOUS IRISES

Iris has always been a popular girls’ name in English-speaking countries, with famous examples such as the legendary New York decorator-fashion icon-designer-model, Iris Apfel, paid tribute to in flowers as one if the Fleurs de Villes FEMMES, who was born in 1921. The name continues to be popular, as in filmmaker Judd Apatow’s actress daughter Iris Apatow (This is 40, Knocked Up) born in 2002.  

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HISTORICAL USES FOR IRIS

Other than making beautiful cut flower arrangements, iris have other uses. Their petals blended with honey were once used as a home-remedy for freckles, and iris root powder was added to red wine to bring out its bouquet. Orris root, derived from iris, is used to make “essence of violet” for perfume. Teething babies were once encouraged to gnaw on a “finger” of dried root for its natural fluoride.

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HOW TO GROW IRIS

Iris are relatively easy to grow and propagate in a garden, provided they have full sun. Gardens dedicated exclusively to iris are therefore popular, such as the iris garden at Paris’ Jardin Bagatelle that feels like walking through a Van Gogh painting. Most iris bloom in mid-spring, with the Japanese varieties extending into the summer months. Some bearded iris are “remontant,” meaning they can have a second bloom in the summer. They should be cut right when they start showing signs of colour, and will last in an arrangement for at least five days. Iris’ wide range of textures and colours, as well as petals that can be speckled, marbled and have contrasting edges, as well as their artistic quality, make them a beautiful cut flower.