Bearded Iris Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' (BB)

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' is a captivating plant characterized by its striking flowers and elegant foliage. The blooms of this iris are particularly noteworthy, featuring soft, ruffled petals that exhibit a blend of colors. The petals typically have a gradient effect, with shades ranging from pale pink to deep rose, creating an enchanting visual display. The flowers are composed of three upright petals, known as standards, and three drooping petals referred to as falls. The falls are often adorned with intricate veining or a noticeable beard, which consists of short, fuzzy extensions that add a touch of texture to the flower. The beard may contrast in color, such as a lighter tone that stands out against the deeper pigmentation of the falls. This combination of colors and patterns makes each bloom stand out as a complex work of art. Surrounding the showy flowers, the plant also boasts a clump of sword-shaped leaves. These leaves are long and narrow, with a rich green color that serves as the perfect backdrop for the radiant blooms. The foliage rises vertically, adding an architectural element to the plant's overall form. The blooms of Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' emerge from sturdy stalks that rise gracefully above the foliage, presenting the flowers prominently when they are in season. The visual impact of the plant is one of elegance and sophistication, making it a beloved choice for gardeners looking to add a touch of beauty and refinement to their garden spaces.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Allison Elizabeth Border Bearded Iris, Allison Elizabeth Iris
- Common names
  Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' (BB)
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' (commonly known as Bearded Iris) has parts that can be toxic if ingested. Particularly, the rhizomes (underground stems) contain irisin, iridin, or irisine which can cause stomach upset. If ingested, it may lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Handling the plant can sometimes cause skin irritation due to its slightly abrasive foliage.
- To pets
  Bearded Iris, including the Iris 'Allison Elizabeth', can be toxic to pets if parts of the plant are ingested, especially the rhizomes. They contain compounds like irisin, iridin, or irisine that can cause gastrointestinal upset in animals. Symptoms of poisoning in pets can include vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, lethargy, and in severe cases, more critical signs such as abdominal pain or elevated heart rate. It’s important to prevent pets from consuming any part of the plant.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Mixed
- Height
  2 feet (60 cm)
- Spread
  1 foot (30 cm)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  3
- Native area
  Cultivar

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attractive Flowers: Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' produces beautiful, colorful flowers that enhance the aesthetic appeal of any garden.
- Pollinator Friendly: The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, supporting biodiversity.
- Low Maintenance: Once established, irises require minimal care, making them suitable for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Drought Tolerance: These plants can withstand dry conditions once they are established, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Hardiness: Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' is able to survive in a variety of climates and is generally resistant to pests and diseases.
- Seasonal Interest: Irises provide a seasonal display of color in the spring or early summer, depending on the climate.
- Architectural Structure: The tall, upright foliage of irises adds vertical interest to garden beds even when the plant is not in bloom.
- Versatility: They can be used in a variety of garden designs, including borders, water features, and as cut flowers in floral arrangements.
- Propagation Ease: Irises can be easily divided and shared with friends or used to expand garden displays.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Art and Inspiration: Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' can serve as a muse for artists and designers, providing rich color and form that can be translated into various mediums such as paintings, textiles, and fashion designs.
- Photography: The vibrant colors and intricate shapes of Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' make it a favorite subject for photographers, offering an opportunity to capture the unique beauty of nature.
- Education: This Iris variety can be used in botanical studies to teach students about plant biology, hybridization processes, and genetic diversity within species.
- Floristry: Due to its striking appearance, Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' is often used in floral arrangements and can be a centerpiece in bouquets or decorations for special events like weddings or anniversaries.
- Companion Planting: Gardeners might use Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' as a companion plant in gardens to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, which are essential for the healthy ecosystem of a garden.
- Cultural Symbols: Irises are often used as symbols in various cultures, and specific varieties like 'Allison Elizabeth' could represent concepts or themes in literature, art, and mythology.
- Culinary Presentation: The unique form and bright colors of Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' petals can be used to embellish and enhance the visual appeal of gourmet dishes in high-end culinary presentations.
- Perfumery: Though not common for all Iris varieties, some are used to extract scents for perfumes, and 'Allison Elizabeth' could potentially contribute a unique fragrance element to a perfume blend.
- Eco-friendly Crafts: The stems, leaves, and spent blooms of the Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' can be repurposed into eco-friendly crafts such as natural weavings, paper-making, or bio-degradable ornaments.
- Colorant: Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' petals could be used to create natural dyes for fabrics, yarns, or even as a non-toxic colorant in arts and crafts for children.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Iris is not traditionally used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Iris is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Hope: The iris often signifies hope, inspired by its ability to bloom each year with remarkable resilience.
- Faith: Given its perennial nature and the way it stands tall, the iris symbolizes faith in oneself and the universe.
- Wisdom: Historically linked to royalty and the divine, irises carry the symbolic meaning of wisdom and valued knowledge.
- Courage: The sturdy growth of irises, even in adverse conditions, represents courage and the ability to face challenges head-on.
- Purity: With its elegant and pristine petals, the iris is often associated with purity and innocence.

💧

Every 2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The Bearded Iris requires moderate watering, especially during the growing season. It is best to water it deeply every week to ensure the roots receive enough moisture, depending on weather conditions like heat and wind which can increase the frequency. Aim to provide about 1 gallon of water per square yard of soil, which should saturate the soil to a depth of about 9 inches, encouraging deep root growth. During the hot summer months, you may need to water the Bearded Iris twice a week, but always check the top 2 inches of soil before watering again to avoid overwatering. Reduce watering frequency once blooming has occurred and in the fall as the plant enters dormancy.
Light
Bearded Iris thrives in full sunlight for at least 6 hours a day but can tolerate partial shade. The ideal spot for this plant is in an area where it can receive uninterrupted direct sunlight to ensure robust growth and optimal blooming. Avoid placing it in heavily shaded areas, as this can lead to poor flowering and increased risk of disease.
Temperature
Bearded Iris prefers temperate conditions and will survive in temperatures ranging from 12°F in winter to 95°F in summer. It tolerates frost but for ideal growth, keep it in an environment where temperatures range between 55°F and 75°F. Avoid exposing the plant to prolonged periods below 10°F or above 100°F, which can cause stress or damage.
Pruning
Pruning Bearded Iris involves deadheading spent flowers promptly to encourage additional blooms and cutting back foliage at the end of the blooming season. Prune the plants by removing dead or damaged foliage to prevent disease and to tidy up the plant. The best time to prune is post-bloom and again in late fall, before winter sets in. It's also the opportune time to divide the rhizomes if the clumps become too crowded, generally every 3 to 5 years.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The Bearded Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' thrives in well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH of 6.8 to 7.0. A mix combining loamy soil with compost and coarse sand is ideal to ensure good drainage and fertility.
Repotting
Bearded Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' should be divided and repotted every 3 to 5 years to prevent overcrowding and to rejuvenate the plant for better blooms.
Humidity & Misting
Bearded Iris 'Allison Elizabeth' prefers average garden humidity levels and does not require high humidity conditions to thrive.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place Bearded Iris near a sunny window, ensure good airflow and soil drainage.
- Outdoor
  Plant in sunny spot with well-draining soil; divide every few years.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA.
Life cycle
Iris 'Allison Elizabeth', also known as Bearded Iris, begins its life cycle when the seed germinates in moist, well-drained soil, emerging as a small seedling. The seedling grows into a mature plant with sword-like leaves and develops a rhizome, a horizontal stem typically underground that stores nutrients and can give rise to new plants. Annual growth cycles involve the iris foliage growing in spring, followed by flowering typically in late spring to early summer, showcasing the plant's distinctive ruffled petals. After blooming, the plant enters a period of dormancy in the late summer or fall, where above-ground foliage dies back, and the rhizome undergoes a resting phase. During this stage, the rhizome can be divided and replanted to propagate new plants. In the following spring, the cycle begins anew with regrowth from the rhizome, leading to the development of foliage and the cycle repeating with new blooms.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- The Iris 'Allison Elizabeth', commonly known as the bearded iris, is most commonly propagated through division, a method ideally carried out in late summer after the blooms have faded and the plant has gone dormant. To propagate by division, carefully dig up an established clump of iris rhizomes, ensuring minimal damage to the roots. Shake off excess soil and use a sharp knife to separate the rhizomes, making sure each division has at least one fan of leaves and a portion of healthy roots. Trim the leaves to about one-third their height to reduce water loss and replant the divisions promptly, setting them so the tops of the rhizomes are slightly exposed to the air. Space the divisions about 12 to 24 inches apart to allow for growth and good air circulation. Water the newly planted divisions well to help establish them. This method allows gardeners to rejuvenate older clumps that may have become less vigorous or to increase the number of plants in their garden.