Tall Bearded Iris Iris 'Nicola Jane' (TB)

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Iris 'Nicola Jane' is a captivating perennial plant known for its ornamental and showy flowers. The plant features a striking bloom that showcases several hues, often blending vibrant yellows with rich purples or blues in a harmonious display. The flowers have a classic iris form with three upright standards that may gently curve backwards. These standards are typically lighter in color and may occasionally have a touch of veining or stippling. Below them are the three falls that drape elegantly downward, often sporting a bold deeper tone and often adorned with beautiful contrasting beards in the center, which can be a brighter yellow or orange, providing an eye-catching contrast against the petals. The leaves of Iris 'Nicola Jane' are long and sword-like with a bright green color, adding a vertical element to the plant's structure. They are slightly curved and grow in a clumping fashion, emerging from thick, fleshy rhizomes at the base of the plant. The foliage remains attractive even when the plant is not in bloom, providing a backdrop that highlights other garden flowers and plants. The rhizomes should be planted partially exposed to prevent rot and to ensure healthy growth and flowering. The charm of Iris 'Nicola Jane' is not only in its spectacular flowers but also in its capability to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, adding to the liveliness of any garden setting. Despite its lack of mention of its specific size, gardeners value this variety for its capacity to bring a pop of color and elegance to the landscape. Whether planted in bulk for a dramatic effect or used as a specimen to accentuate a gardening space, Iris 'Nicola Jane' is a delightful addition that encapsulates the beauty and grace of irises.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Tall Bearded Iris, Bearded Iris
- Common names
  Iris 'Nicola Jane' (TB)
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Tall Bearded Iris, including the cultivar 'Nicola Jane,' contains compounds that can be toxic if ingested. The primary toxic component is irisin, along with other compounds that can cause gastrointestinal upset. Symptoms of poisoning from eating parts of an iris may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. More severe reactions could include irritation of the mouth and throat. Handling the plant, especially the rhizomes, can also cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. Seek immediate medical attention if ingestion is suspected.
- To pets
  The Tall Bearded Iris, including 'Nicola Jane,' is toxic to pets such as dogs and cats. The rhizomes contain the highest concentration of the toxin, though all parts of the plant can be harmful if ingested. Symptoms of iris poisoning in pets can include vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling, lethargy, and abdominal pain. In severe cases, it can also lead to more serious gastrointestinal distress. If you suspect your pet has ingested any part of an iris, seek veterinary care immediately.
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
- Landscape enhancement: Iris 'Nicola Jane' (Tall Bearded Iris) is known for its stunning flowers which add beauty and visual interest to gardens and landscapes.
- Variety of colors: This cultivar can offer a range of colors that can fit various garden themes and color schemes.
- Pollinator attraction: The flowers attract beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies, which are essential for pollination and maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
- Drought tolerance: Once established, Tall Bearded Irises are typically drought-tolerant, making them suitable for xeriscaping and water-wise gardening.
- Low maintenance: These plants generally require minimal care once established, making them a good choice for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Seasonal interest: With their spring bloom time, Tall Bearded Irises provide seasonal interest and can be used to create succession planting designs for continuous bloom in the garden.
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 'Nicola Jane' petals can be used in the art of flower pounding to transfer pigment onto fabric for a natural and organic design.
- Dried Iris petals can be mixed into potpourri to add a fragrant scent to rooms as they often retain their perfume even after drying.
- The sturdy, elongated leaves of the Iris can be woven into baskets or used as natural ribbons for eco-friendly gift-wrapping.
- When harvested and dried properly, Iris stalks can be used as natural fire starters due to their fibrous content.
- The plant can be used in companion planting to help conceal less attractive bases of taller plants with its own dense foliage.
- Iris 'Nicola Jane' can be planted to stabilize soil in areas prone to erosion with its robust root system.
- The flowers are sometimes used in the creation of homemade inks and dyes for crafts, using boiling water to extract the color.
- Sachets filled with dried Iris flowers can be tucked into drawers or closets to impart a subtle fragrance to linens and clothing.
- Photographers often use the Iris 'Nicola Jane' as a subject for macro photography due to its intricate floral patterns and colors.
- Gardeners can use the blooming periods of Iris 'Nicola Jane' as a natural calendar to indicate the start of specific planting seasons.

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
- Hope: The iris is often seen as a symbol of hope, as its vibrant blooms emerge in the spring, signifying the arrival of better times ahead.
- Trust: Associated with the Greek goddess Iris, the messenger of the gods and a link between heaven and earth, the iris can represent trust in divine timing and guidance.
- Wisdom: The flower is emblematic of wisdom and valued for its beauty and its association with knowledge and learning.
- Courage: Through history, the iris has stood for courage, especially in the context of its use in heraldry where it symbolizes valor and bravery.
- Purity: The iris' clear, bright colors and elegant form give it an aura of purity and innocence.
- Royalty: The fleur-de-lis, a stylized iris, has long been associated with royalty and nobility, particularly in France.

💧

Every 7-10 days

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 3-4 years

Repotting

🌱️

Late summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Tall Bearded Irises like 'Nicola Jane' should be watered deeply to encourage root growth, generally requiring about an inch of water per week. During the growing season, especially in dry weather, watering should occur once a week. Irises prefer not to be overwatered, so it's important to allow the top couple of inches of soil to dry out before watering again. In a garden setting, use a soaker hose or drip irrigation to provide water at the soil level, which helps to keep the foliage dry and prevent disease. Depending on your watering system, this might equate to about 1-2 gallons per plant per week, adjusted for rainfall.
Light
Tall Bearded Irises such as 'Nicola Jane' thrive in full sun, which means at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. A spot that receives morning sun and some afternoon shade is also acceptable, especially in hotter climates. Avoid heavily shaded areas, as too little light can lead to poor flowering.
Temperature
Tall Bearded Irises are hardy and can tolerate a range of temperatures. They prefer conditions between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit but can survive temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the growing season. However, to avoid frost damage, it's best to plant them where they will not be subjected to early fall or late spring freezes.
Pruning
Tall Bearded Irises like 'Nicola Jane' should be pruned by removing spent flower stems down to the base after blooming to encourage healthy growth and prevent seed formation. After the first hard frost in the fall, cut back the foliage to about 4-6 inches to tidy up the plant and reduce overwintering pests and diseases. Divide and prune every 3-5 years to maintain vigor and bloom quality, ideally just after the flowering period.
Cleaning
Not needed
Soil
The Tall Bearded Iris 'Nicola Jane' prefers well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH between 6.8 and 7.0. A good soil mix might include loamy garden soil, compost, and coarse sand to ensure proper drainage and soil structure. It's imperative to avoid heavy, clay-rich soils as they can lead to root rot.
Repotting
Tall Bearded Irises like 'Nicola Jane' don't often need repotting. They should be divided and transplanted about every 3 to 4 years to prevent overcrowding and to rejuvenate the plantings, which also helps to maintain vigorous growth and abundant blooms.
Humidity & Misting
The Tall Bearded Iris 'Nicola Jane' is tolerant of a range of humidity levels and does not require high humidity to thrive. They are well suited to the typical outdoor humidity levels found in their growing zones and do not have special humidity requirements.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in a sunny spot with well-draining soil.
- Outdoor
  Plant in sunny area with good drainage, divide every 3-4 years.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
Iris 'Nicola Jane', a Tall Bearded Iris, begins its life as a seed, which upon germination sprouts to produce a seedling with basic iris characteristics. The seedling gradually matures into a rhizomatous clump, developing long, sword-shaped leaves and sturdy stems over time. This perennial plant enters a vegetative stage where it invests energy into growth and stored carbohydrates within its rhizome. Under suitable conditions of sunlight and moisture, the Iris 'Nicola Jane' enters the flowering stage in late spring to early summer, displaying the well-known ornate blooms prized for their beauty. After pollination, flowers fade and seed pods may form, completing the reproductive cycle. Throughout its life, the plant periodically goes dormant, particularly in winter, conserving energy to resurface as the climate warms.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Late summer
- Iris 'Nicola Jane', commonly referred to as Tall Bearded Iris, is most commonly propagated through division. This process is best done in late summer after the blooms have faded, typically around July to September. To propagate by division, start by carefully digging up the iris clump and gently shaking off excess soil. Using a sharp knife, divide the rhizomes, ensuring each division has at least one healthy fan of leaves and a section of the rhizome. Cut the leaves back to about 6 inches (15 centimeters) to reduce water loss and replant the divisions 12 to 24 inches (30 to 61 centimeters) apart at the same soil depth they were growing before. This method helps to rejuvenate older clumps, encourage blooming, and increase the number of plants in your garden.