Tall Bearded Iris Iris 'Dovedale' (TB)

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Iris 'Dovedale' is a captivating plant known for its exquisite flowers. This variety showcases blooms that are richly colored in shades of purple, often with a velvety appearance that can add a touch of luxury to any garden. The flowers typically have broad, overlapping petals that are gracefully ruffled along the edges. The petals often exhibit a slight sheen and may have intricate veining or patterning, with the upper petals standing upright to form an elegant, regal display. Each flower is accentuated by its bold, upright standards and softer, cascading falls—the two types of petals that distinguish iris flowers. The falls tend to arch gracefully downward, while the standards rise above them, creating a striking contrast in form. A distinguishing feature of these irises is the beard—a fuzzy line along the middle of each fall that can vary in color, sometimes providing a bright, eye-catching accent or a subtle blend with the overall color of the bloom. The foliage of Iris 'Dovedale' is also a key component of its appearance. The plant has long, sword-like leaves that grow in a fan-like formation. These leaves are a bright, fresh green, and their vertical lines add a strong architectural element to the garden. When in bloom, Iris 'Dovedale' displays a striking presence, offering a burst of vivid color and a compelling silhouette that can truly enhance the visual interest of any space it adorns. The plant's unique structure and the delicate yet bold flowers make it a favorite among gardeners looking to add a touch of drama to their floral arrangements or garden beds.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Tall Bearded Iris, Bearded Iris
- Common names
  Iris 'Dovedale' (TB).
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Tall Bearded Iris, including the Iris 'Dovedale', is considered to have a low level of toxicity to humans. If ingested, parts of the plant, particularly the rhizomes, can cause mild stomach upset and possible dermatitis in sensitive individuals. While severe poisoning is rare, it is still advised to avoid consuming any part of the bearded iris.
- To pets
  For pets, the Tall Bearded Iris can also be mildly toxic. Ingestion of the rhizomes or other plant parts may result in symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive drooling. While the toxicity is generally low, ingestion can still cause gastrointestinal discomfort for dogs, cats, and other pets. As a precaution, it is recommended to prevent pets from chewing on or eating the plant.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Blue
- Height
  2-3 feet (60-90 cm)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  3-9
- Native area
  Cultivar

Benefits

General Benefits
- Enhances Garden Aesthetics: Iris 'Dovedale' adds striking blue-violet flowers that can serve as focal points or complement other plants in the garden.
- Easy to Grow: This variety is known for being hardy and adaptable to a range of garden conditions, making it a good choice for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Attracts Pollinators: The blooms of Iris 'Dovedale' attract bees and butterflies, which are beneficial for pollination of surrounding plants.
- Seasonal Interest: With its spring bloom time, it provides color and interest in the garden during the earlier part of the growing season.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, Iris 'Dovedale' is relatively drought-tolerant, requiring less frequent watering.
- Low Maintenance: This plant generally requires minimal care beyond initial planting and occasional dividing.
- Soil Adaptability: It can thrive in a variety of soil types, although it prefers well-drained soil.
- Cut Flower Use: The flowers are suitable for cutting and can be used in floral arrangements, adding beauty indoors as well as outside.
- Herbaceous Perennial: As a perennial, it will return year after year, providing long-term value in the garden.
- Versatility in Landscape Design: It can be used in a variety of landscape designs, including borders, mass plantings, and water garden settings.
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
- The Iris 'Dovedale' can be used as a natural dye, with different parts of the plant producing varying shades of yellow, green, and blue depending on the mordant used.
- Its sturdy, long leaves can be woven into baskets or mats, providing an eco-friendly crafting material.
- These irises can be planted in rain gardens as they can tolerate and thrive in wet soil conditions, helping to filter runoff water.
- The flowers can be used in perfumery, as they can sometimes have a light, pleasant fragrance that is used in scent compositions.
- The dried seed pods can be used in floral arrangements to add interesting textures and shapes.
- When grown en masse, Iris 'Dovedale' can serve as erosion control due to its robust root system that holds soil in place.
- The petals of the Iris 'Dovedale' can be pressed and used in artistic creations like handmade paper or bookmarks.
- Its striking appearance can be utilized as a natural way to delineate spaces in a garden or as a living border.
- The plant's tall structure and colorful blooms can offer visual interest and serve as a focal point in landscape photography.
- The Iris 'Dovedale' can play a role in educational gardens or botanical collections that focus on demonstrating the diversity of flower forms and colors.

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 has long been associated with royalty due to its regal appearance and presence in royal emblems.
- Wisdom: Often linked to the Greek goddess Iris, the messenger of the gods, the iris symbolizes wisdom and valued communication.
- Hope: The iris is a symbol of hope, representing faith and the belief in a better future.
- Trust: Given as a sign of trust and respect, the iris conveys deep, meaningful connections between individuals.
- Courage: With its bold and striking appearance, the iris can embody courage and admiration.
- Purity: In some cultures, the iris is a sign of purity and innocence, often used in religious ceremonies.
- Transition: As a plant that blooms in spring, the iris can signify transition and new beginnings.

💧

Every 7-10 days

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 3-5 years

Repotting

🌱️

Late summer to fall

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Tall Bearded Irises like 'Dovedale' require consistent moisture during the growing season, particularly when they are setting buds and blooming. In general, water deeply once a week, providing about one to two inches of water each time. During hot, dry spells, you may need to water twice a week. In well-draining soil, aim to provide approximately one gallon of water per square foot per month. Overwatering or poor drainage can lead to rot, so it’s essential not to let the soil stay waterlogged.
Light
Tall Bearded Irises, such as 'Dovedale,' thrive in full sun conditions, which means they need a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight per day. The ideal spot for planting these irises would be in an area that receives uninterrupted sunlight throughout the day to ensure vigorous growth and optimal blooming.
Temperature
Tall Bearded Irises like 'Dovedale' prefer temperate climates with cold winters and warm summers. They can survive winter temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit, while their preferred growing temperatures are between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Excessive heat above 90 degrees Fahrenheit for extended periods can be detrimental to their health.
Pruning
Tall Bearded Irises, including 'Dovedale,' should be pruned by removing spent flower stems down to the base after blooming to promote healthy growth and prevent seed formation. Additionally, in late summer or early fall, cut back the leaves to about 6 inches to tidy the plant and reduce the chance of pests and diseases. This also prepares the plant for winter and encourages a fresh burst of growth in the spring.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The Tall Bearded Iris 'Dovedale' requires well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH of 6.5 to 7. The ideal soil mix should contain loamy soil, coarse sand, and compost to ensure proper drainage and fertility. Regular garden soil amended with organic matter such as well-rotted manure or compost can create a suitable growing environment for these irises.
Repotting
Tall Bearded Irises like 'Dovedale' generally do not need to be repotted often. They should be divided and replanted about every 3 to 5 years to prevent overcrowding and to rejuvenate the plant for optimum blooming. Best done after the blooming season, usually in late summer.
Humidity & Misting
Tall Bearded Irises, such as the 'Dovedale', prefer lower humidity levels and do well in the typical humidity found in temperate climates. They thrive in open, airy conditions where the foliage can dry quickly, as high humidity can lead to fungal diseases.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Ensure bright light, cool temps and low humidity for indoor Tall Bearded Iris.
- Outdoor
  Plant in sunny spot with good drainage for outdoor Tall Bearded Iris.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
Iris 'Dovedale', also known as a type of Tall Bearded Iris, begins its life as a rhizome which, when planted in well-draining soil and with adequate sunlight, will sprout into a green shoot. The shoot grows into a tall stalk with long, slender leaves and eventually produces the plant's distinct, large, and colorful flowers, typically in late spring or early summer. After the flowering period, the plant will set seed in a capsule if pollination occurs, although many gardeners deadhead irises to promote plant vigor. As the growing season progresses, the foliage continues to photosynthesize, storing energy in the rhizome for the next year's growth. With the arrival of autumn, the leaves may begin to die back as the plant enters dormancy; during this time, the rhizome survives underground. Lastly, in the following spring, the cycle repeats as new growth emerges from the rhizome, continuing the perennial life cycle of the Iris 'Dovedale'.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Late summer to fall
- Propogation: The Iris 'Dovedale', a tall bearded iris, is typically propagated through division, which is best done in late summer after the blooming season has ended. This process involves digging up the rhizome clump and gently separating it into smaller pieces, each with at least one fan of leaves and a section of rhizome. The divisions should be replanted promptly, setting them so the top of the rhizome is just slightly below the soil surface. It's important to choose a sunny location with well-draining soil. The space between new plantings should be about 12 to 24 inches (approximately 30 to 60 centimeters) to ensure adequate space for growth. This method rejuvenates the clumps, encouraging more vigorous flowering in subsequent seasons.