Iris Iris 'Chance Beauty' (SpH)

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Iris 'Chance Beauty' (SpH) boasts a striking appearance characterized by its ornate flowers. Each bloom exhibits an array of vivid colors that can include shades of purple, blue, violet, or a combination thereof, intermingled with splashes of white or yellow, which add to the visual appeal of the flowers' intricate patterns. The petals form unique shapes, with some known to gracefully arch downwards, while others stand upright. These flowers are complemented by sword-like foliage that is typically a rich, deep green, creating a lush backdrop for the colorful blossoms. The plant has a clumping habit, with the beautiful leaves and stems contributing to its overall attractive form, making it a popular choice for gardens.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Bearded Iris, German Iris
- Common names
  Iris 'Chance Beauty' (SpH)
Toxicity
- To humans
  Iris 'Chance Beauty' is considered mildly toxic to humans. If ingested, certain parts of the plant, particularly the rhizomes (underground stems), can cause stomach upset and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The severity of the symptoms can vary depending on the amount consumed. It is advisable to avoid ingesting any part of the iris, and to keep it out of reach of children who might be tempted to chew on it.
- To pets
  Iris 'Chance Beauty' is toxic to pets, including dogs and cats. The rhizomes contain compounds that can cause gastrointestinal irritation if ingested, leading to symptoms such as drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and abdominal pain. In severe cases, ingestion can result in more serious conditions, such as depression of the central nervous system. Pet owners should prevent their animals from accessing and consuming any part of the iris plant to avoid potential poisoning.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Mixed
- Height
  2-3 feet (60-90 cm)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  3-9
- Native area
  Temperate Northern Hemisphere

Benefits

General Benefits
- Ornamental Value: Iris 'Chance Beauty' is known for its striking flowers, adding visual interest to gardens and landscapes.
- Low Maintenance: This iris variety requires minimal care once established, making it ideal for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Drought Tolerance: It can withstand periods of low water, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Cold Hardy: The plant is capable of surviving through colder temperatures, making it suitable for a wide range of climates.
- Pollinator Attraction: Its flowers attract bees and other pollinators, supporting local ecosystems.
- Long Blooming Period: Iris 'Chance Beauty' typically has a longer blooming period, providing color for an extended time during the growing season.
- Versatility: It can be used in a variety of garden designs, including borders, water gardens, and as cut flowers.
- Soil Adaptability: This iris is adaptable to different soil types, although it prefers well-drained conditions.
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
- Iris 'Chance Beauty' can be used as a natural fabric dye, providing a range of colors from yellow to green, depending on the mordant used.
- The fibers from the leaves of the Iris can be used in basket weaving, offering a unique texture to handmade baskets.
- Dried Iris petals can be included in potpourri blends for a mild, pleasant fragrance to freshen up indoor spaces.
- When dried, the petal and root components can be burned as incense for their subtle scent and supposed relaxing qualities.
- Iris flowers can serve as a muse for artists and photographers, inspiring creative works with their unique form and colors.
- The plant can be grown as a companion plant, deterring certain types of pests from more delicate vegetables and herbs.
- Iris 'Chance Beauty' makes for organic confetti at weddings and celebrations, decomposing naturally without harming the environment.
- The stalks of the Iris can be used to make paper, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional wood pulp paper.
- The seeds of Iris can be roasted and used in place of coffee for a caffeine-free alternative beverage, although they lack the same flavor profile.
- Pulverized dried roots of the Iris can be used as an ingredient in natural toothpastes, for their mild abrasive quality.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Iris is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Iris is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Royalty - The Iris is often associated with royalty and regal bearing due to its striking appearance and royal blue colors.
- Hope - The Iris can symbolize hope, with its ability to bloom beautifully, signifying the potential for new beginnings.
- Wisdom - In some cultures, the Iris represents wisdom, attributed to the flower's dignified and elegant stance.
- Faith - Given its enduring nature, the Iris is also a symbol of faith, suggesting a belief in the unseen and trust in the larger process of life.
- Courage - The bold colors and shape of the Iris convey a sense of courage and valor, embodying the spirit to face challenges head-on.

💧

Every week

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Bearded irises like Iris 'Chance Beauty' should be watered deeply but infrequently to mimic their natural dry habitat conditions. Provide about an inch of water weekly during the growing season, especially if there's been no rain. To avoid root rot, allow the soil to dry out between watering sessions. Once established, bearded irises are drought-tolerant and will require less water. During dormancy, in late fall and winter, reduce watering significantly, providing water only if the weather is exceptionally dry. Always avoid wetting the foliage to prevent disease; instead, water at the base of the plant.
Light
Bearded irises including Iris 'Chance Beauty' thrive best in full sun. They require a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight per day to bloom well. The ideal spot for planting is a south-facing position where they can receive ample sunlight throughout the day. If planted in too much shade, flowering may be compromised.
Temperature
Bearded irises like Iris 'Chance Beauty' are resilient plants that can survive winter temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit but optimal growing temperatures are between 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They do well in the varying temperatures of temperate zones and should be protected from extreme heat above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, if possible.
Pruning
Pruning bearded irises like Iris 'Chance Beauty' is essential for maintaining plant health and promoting vigorous blooming. Remove spent flower stalks after blooming to direct energy back into the rhizomes. In late summer or early fall, cut back the leaves to about 4 to 6 inches above the ground to minimize overwintering pests and diseases. Prune damaged or diseased foliage as needed throughout the growing season.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The Tall Bearded Iris prefers well-draining soil, a pH of 6.8 to 7.0 is ideal. Mix garden soil, compost, and perlite or sand for best results to enhance drainage and structure.
Repotting
Tall Bearded Irises should be divided and repotted every 3 to 4 years to maintain vigor and bloom quality.
Humidity & Misting
Tall Bearded Irises are tolerant of a range of humidity levels but prefer a drier climate and do not require high humidity to thrive.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Ensure full sun, well-draining soil, and limited water for Tall Bearded Iris.
- Outdoor
  Plant in sunny spot with well-drained soil and space rhizomes apart.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
Iris 'Chance Beauty' begins its life as a bulb or rhizome that is planted in well-draining soil, typically in the fall. As spring arrives, the rhizome sprouts and develops into a clump of sword-shaped leaves, followed by the emergence of flowering stalks. The bloom period occurs in late spring to early summer when the plant produces its characteristic showy flowers, which may last several weeks. After flowering, the plant enters a period of vegetative growth, where it stores energy in the rhizome for the next season. As autumn approaches, the leaves will die back, and the plant goes dormant over the winter months. In subsequent years, the cycle repeats with the plant gradually multiplying through division of the rhizome, which gardeners may separate to propagate new plants.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- The most popular method of propagation for the Iris 'Chance Beauty', commonly known as bearded iris, is through division of its rhizomes. The ideal time to propagate the bearded iris by division is late summer, after the flowering period has ended and the plant is entering dormancy. With a clean, sharp knife or gardening shears, the rhizomes are carefully dug up and the fans of leaves are trimmed back to about a third of their original height to reduce water loss. Each division should have at least one fan of leaves and a section of healthy rhizome with roots attached. These divisions are then replanted immediately at a depth where the top of the rhizome is slightly visible above the soil surface, spaced about 12 to 24 inches (approximately 30 to 60 centimeters) apart for adequate room to grow. Care should be taken to ensure the soil is well-draining and to water the newly planted rhizomes gently to help establish them without causing rot.