Honey Glazed Iris Iris 'Honeyplic' (IB)

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Iris 'Honeyplic' is a highly appealing cultivar notable for its distinctive flowers and foliage. The flowers have a unique color combination, showing off intricately patterned petals. The elegant look of the blossoms is achieved through a blend of colors, which typically includes soft tones that may range from creamy hues to gentle yellows. Each petal exhibits a velvety texture, which is accentuated by the subtle ruffling of their edges, providing a luxurious visual experience. This hybrid type of iris is also characterized by its sword-like foliage. The leaves are generally long and slender, presenting a deep green shade that forms a beautiful contrast against the soft-colored flowers. These leaves often arise in a fan-like pattern from the base of the plant, creating an attractive, upright and arching form. The foliage remains gracefully poised, adding aesthetic value to the plant even when it is not in bloom. The bloom period of Iris 'Honeyplic' is something to anticipate, as it transforms any space into a showcase of its floral charm. When in season, the elegant flowers unfold atop sturdy stems that rise above the foliage, drawing the eye with their distinctive iris form and captivating colors. Each stem typically supports multiple blossoms, which can create a striking display of color and beauty in the garden. Iris 'Honeyplic' adds a sense of refinement to any setting, and it is frequently planted for the dramatic impact its blooms bring. It is favored by garden enthusiasts for the exotic appearance of its flowers and the year-round visual interest provided by its lush foliage.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Common names
  Iris 'Honeyplic' (IB).
Toxicity
- To humans
  Iris 'Honeyplic' is a cultivar of the common iris. Generally, irises contain compounds that can cause skin irritation and are toxic if ingested. Ingesting parts of the plant, particularly the rhizomes (underground stems), can lead to symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Handling the plant may result in skin irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
- To pets
  Iris 'Honeyplic' can also be toxic to pets. If ingested, the common iris may cause symptoms such as excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and abdominal pain. Larger amounts may lead to more severe issues including potential organ damage. It is 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
  Varies
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attractive Blooms: Iris 'Honeyplic' produces beautiful flowers that can enhance the aesthetic appeal of gardens and landscapes.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, it is quite tolerant of drought, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Low Maintenance: It requires minimal upkeep beyond the removal of old foliage and spent blooms.
- Cold Hardy: The plant can survive in cold climates, making it suitable for a variety of growing zones.
- Pollinator Friendly: The flowers attract bees and other pollinators, supporting local ecosystems.
- Multiplication: It can easily be divided to propagate new plants, making it a cost-effective landscaping choice.
- Seasonal Interest: Adds visual interest to gardens in the bloom season and offers a striking form during the off-season.
- Versatility: Suitable for a variety of landscaping uses, including borders, mass plantings, and as a focal point in garden designs.
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
- Artistic Inspiration: Iris 'Honeyplic' can serve as a muse for artists and photographers due to its unique color and form, inspiring artwork and professional photography.
- Edible Decorations: While not common, the petals of some iris varieties may be crystallized and used as elegant edible decorations for cakes and desserts.
- Eco-Friendly Dye: The plant's petals could potentially be used to create natural dyes for fabrics, offering an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic dyes.
- Thematic Gardening: Irises can be utilized in thematic garden designs, such as 'moon gardens', which feature plants that bloom in the evening or have a pale color, creating a garden that's enjoyable even at night.
- Culinary Presentation: In upscale cuisine, small parts of the iris (used cautiously, as some varieties can be toxic) might be incorporated into the presentation of dishes for an exotic touch.
- Water Filtration: Iris plants can be planted in and around water gardens or ponds where they can assist in natural water filtration and enhance water quality.
- Flower Arranging Classes: Irises, including the 'Honeyplic', can be used in flower arranging classes as they pose a challenge due to their unique shape, thereby enhancing the learning experience.
- Symbolic Gifts: Due to their rich symbolism, irises can be given as gifts to convey messages such as wisdom, hope, and trust depending on the color and the occasion.
- Textile Patterns: The distinctive patterns of the iris can inspire textile designs, including those for clothing, curtains, and upholstery fabrics.
- Fragrance Inspiration: While irises are not commonly known for their scent, certain types do have a notable fragrance and can inspire the creation of perfumes and scented products.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The plant Iris is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The plant Iris is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Hope: The iris often signifies hope, a sentiment that is echoed throughout various cultures due to the flower's versatility and range of colors.
- Wisdom: In some historical contexts, the iris is associated with wisdom and valued for its perceived intelligence in design and form.
- Trust: Given as a gift, an iris can symbolize trust, showing faith and belief in someone's character or sincerity.
- Purity: White irises, in particular, are often linked to purity and innocence, similar to many other white flowers.
- Royalty: The flower has royal connotations, partly because of the fleur-de-lis, a stylized iris that has been a symbol of French royalty.
- Messages: In the language of flowers, or floriography, an iris may carry a message from the sender to the receiver, often of a deep or serious nature.

💧

Every 2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Intermediate Bearded Iris 'Honeyplic' requires regular watering, particularly during the active growth season in spring and early summer. The soil should be kept moderately moist but not soggy, as Irises do not like to sit in waterlogged soil. Typically, watering once a week with about an inch of water is sufficient, but this may increase to twice per week during particularly hot or dry periods. After blooming, you can gradually reduce watering as the plants enter dormancy. Be mindful that overwatering can cause root rot, so it’s important to ensure good drainage.
Light
Intermediate Bearded Irises, including Iris 'Honeyplic', thrive in full sun conditions. They perform best in a spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. This promotes strong growth and ensures an abundance of flowers. While they can tolerate partial shade, too much shade can lead to fewer blooms and may make the plants more susceptible to disease.
Temperature
The Intermediate Bearded Iris 'Honeyplic' is adaptable to a wide range of temperatures and can survive minimum winter temperatures down to -30 degrees Fahrenheit. However, they bloom best when spring temperatures are between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. During the growing season, they can handle temperatures up to 86 degrees Fahrenheit or more as long as they receive adequate moisture.
Pruning
Prune your Intermediate Bearded Iris 'Honeyplic’ by removing spent flower stems down to the base of the plant after blooming to keep the plants looking tidy and to discourage disease. Additionally, in late summer or early fall, trim back any damaged or diseased foliage, and after several years, divide the rhizomes to maintain vigor and flower quality. This is typically done every 3 to 5 years.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Intermediate Bearded Iris 'Honeyplic' thrives in well-draining, fertile soil with a pH close to neutral, between 6.8 and 7.0. Best soil mix includes loamy soil, compost, and perlite or coarse sand to improve drainage.
Repotting
Intermediate Bearded Iris 'Honeyplic' should be repotted or divided every 3 to 4 years to prevent overcrowding and rejuvenate the plant. It is best done after flowering, typically in late summer.
Humidity & Misting
Intermediate Bearded Iris 'Honeyplic' is tolerant of a wide range of humidity levels and does not require high humidity. Average outdoor conditions are typically sufficient for this plant.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place near a sunny window and ensure good air circulation for Iris 'Honeyplic'.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil for Iris 'Honeyplic'.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
Iris 'Honeyplic', commonly known as Bearded Iris, begins its life cycle as a dormant rhizome planted in well-draining soil during late summer to early fall. In the spring, new growth emerges in the form of sword-shaped leaves that form a fan-like pattern. As temperatures increase, flower stems rise from the center of the fans, and the iconic bearded blossoms in shades of yellow and purple open, typically from late spring to early summer. After flowering, the plant enters a period of vegetative growth, where it stores energy in the rhizome for the next season. In late summer, the foliage may die back, and the plant enters dormancy, with the rhizome resting underground. Propagation occurs either through division during dormancy or by seeds if flowers have been fertilized, starting the cycle anew.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- The Iris 'Honeyplic', commonly known as a type of bearded iris, can be propagated most effectively through division, which is best performed in late summer after the flowering has finished. To propagate by division, carefully dig up the iris clump and gently separate the rhizomes, making sure each section has at least one fan of leaves and a portion of the root system attached. Trim the leaves to about one-third of their height, which should be about 4 to 6 inches (approximately 10 to 15 centimeters), to reduce water loss and make handling easier. Plant the divided rhizomes in a well-drained soil at a depth where the top of the rhizome is slightly exposed to the sun, as irises prefer not to be buried too deeply. Water the newly planted rhizomes well to help establish them. This process allows the plant to rejuvenate and typically results in more vigorous growth and bloom in the following season.