Tall Bearded Iris Iris 'Terre À Silex' (TB)

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Iris 'Terre À Silex' is a bearded iris, recognized for its striking blooms and foliage. The flowers exude a sense of classic elegance and boast a unique color palette that tantalizes the senses. The petals typically present a dual tonality, with the standards (the upright petals) showcasing a lighter hue, while the falls (the downward curving petals) exhibit a deeper and more vivid coloration. This dramatic contrast is often accentuated by a distinct beard that emerges in a complementary or contrasting color, adding to the flower's attractiveness. The foliage of this iris is a lush, deep green. Sword-shaped leaves arise from the base of the plant, creating an attractive, upright, and fan-like form. These leaves remain aesthetically appealing even when the plant is not in bloom, contributing to the visual interest of the garden. The leaves provide a perfect backdrop, allowing the blooms to shine with their full visual impact. In essence, Iris 'Terre À Silex' is a plant that captivates with its beautiful, ornate flowers and its graceful, structured foliage, making it a beloved choice for gardeners looking to inject color and form into their landscapes.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Bearded Iris, German Iris
- Common names
  Iris 'Terre À Silex' (TB).
Toxicity
- To humans
  Tall Bearded Iris, often simply known as bearded iris, may contain compounds that can cause irritation or discomfort if ingested or handled improperly. The plant, particularly its rhizomes (underground stems), is considered mildly toxic when eaten. If someone ingests part of a bearded iris, they may experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Handling the plant may also cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. It is always advisable to keep ornamental plants out of the reach of children who might accidentally ingest plant parts.
- To pets
  Bearded iris can be toxic to pets if ingested. The rhizomes contain irisin, iridin, or irisine, which can cause gastrointestinal irritation, including symptoms such as drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. These symptoms can vary depending on the size of the pet and the amount consumed. It is best to prevent your pets from chewing on or ingesting any part of a bearded iris plant to avoid these potential health issues. If you suspect your pet has ingested part of the plant, it is important to contact a veterinarian.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Varies
- Height
  3 feet (91 cm)
- Spread
  1 feet (30 cm)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  3
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Decorative Appeal: The Iris 'Terre À Silex' is known for its attractive flowers that add a splash of color to gardens and landscapes.
- Pollinator Attraction: These flowers can attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators to your garden, aiding in the pollination of plants.
- Low Maintenance: Irises are relatively easy to care for once established, requiring minimal watering and care.
- Drought Resistance: The plant is quite drought-tolerant, making it suitable for xeriscaping or gardens in drier climates.
- Soil Adaptability: It can adapt to various soil types, although it prefers well-draining soil conditions.
- Seasonal Interest: The plant provides seasonal interest with its blooming pattern, usually in late spring to early summer.
- Perennial Growth: As a perennial, the Iris 'Terre À Silex' will return each year with proper care, providing long-term value in the garden.
- Companion Planting: They can be effectively used in companion planting to complement other garden flowers and shrubs.
- Border Plants: Ideal for planting in borders due to their distinct, upright form, adding structure to garden designs.
- Variety of Uses: Suitable for use in various landscape designs including beds, borders, and as cut flowers for indoor arrangements.
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 dried rhizomes of Iris can be ground into a powder and used as a natural pigment for art, adding a gentle natural dye to paintings or fabrics.
- Extracts from Iris flowers can be added to homemade candles to give a unique floral scent when burned.
- Pressed Iris flowers can be used in scrapbooking or to create botanical prints for home decor, preserving the beauty of the blooms in a creative way.
- The robust leaves of the Iris can be used in floral arrangements to add greenery and structure, supporting other, more delicate flowers.
- Fibers from Iris leaves may be harvested and experimented with as a material to weave small baskets or mats, showcasing traditional crafting techniques.
- The blooms of Irises can serve as natural indicators of pH balance in soil; they typically prefer neutral to slightly acidic soils.
- Parts of the Iris plant, once dried and treated, can be used in potpourri blends for adding fragrance to rooms.
- Irises can be incorporated into a natural dye garden, as their pigments are useful for dyeing fabrics and yarns in various shades depending on the mordant used.
- Gardeners can use the Iris's preference for well-drained soil to plan effective water drainage systems in gardens where such conditions are needed.
- Iris seed pods, when dried, have a unique shape and texture, making them ideal for adding visual interest in dry floral arrangements or as an educational tool in botany classes.

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
- Purity: Irises are often associated with purity and innocence, perhaps due to their delicate and pristine appearance.
- Hope: The iris is a symbol of hope, reflecting its ability to bloom in a variety of conditions and bring color to even the dullest of landscapes.
- Courage: Historically, the iris has represented courage and admiration, as seen in its use as a heraldic symbol on medieval knights' banners.
- Wisdom: The flower is sometimes related to wisdom, an association that dates back to Greek mythology where Iris was a messenger for the gods and linked to the transmission of messages and knowledge.
- Faith: In various cultures, the iris is a symbol of faith, embodying belief in the unknown and spiritual devotion.
- Royalty: With its rich hues and regal bearing, irises can indicate royalty and convey an air of majesty and nobility.

💧

Every 7-10 days

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Late Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Tall Bearded Irises like the Iris 'Terre À Silex' need moderate watering, especially during the growing season. Ensure the soil is well-draining to prevent waterlogging. Water established plants about once a week with roughly one inch of water, but adjust for rainfall and temperature. Newly planted rhizomes may require more frequent watering every few days until they are well-established. During the dormant season in winter, reduce watering significantly, but do not allow the soil to completely dry out for extended periods. Always avoid letting water sit on the rhizomes to prevent rot.
Light
Tall Bearded Irises, such as the Iris 'Terre À Silex', thrive in full sun which is at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. The ideal spot for this plant would be in an area that gets plenty of morning sun but is protected from the intense afternoon heat if you are in a particularly hot climate. Avoid planting in too much shade as this can lead to poor flowering and increase the risk of disease.
Temperature
Tall Bearded Irises typically prefer temperatures between 55°F and 75°F for optimal growth. They can survive minimum winter temperatures down to around 10°F. During the growing season, maintain temperatures around 70°F during the day and slightly cooler at night. Irises are adaptable, but they perform best when not exposed to prolonged periods below freezing or extreme heat above 90°F.
Pruning
Prune Tall Bearded Irises by removing any spent flower stems down to the base of the plant to encourage healthy growth and possibly a second bloom. After blooming season, remove only the damaged or diseased leaves. In late summer to fall, cut back the foliage to about 4-6 inches in preparation for winter. Prune once a year, or as needed for damaged foliage, for best health and performance.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Tall Bearded Iris requires well-draining soil with a pH range of 6.8 to 7. The best soil mix should include loamy or sandy soil amended with compost to aid in drainage and provide nutrients. Avoid soils that are too heavy or have a tendency to stay wet as irises are prone to root rot in such conditions.
Repotting
Bearded Iris, commonly known as Tall Bearded Iris, typically does not need frequent repotting. They should be divided and replanted every 3 to 5 years to prevent overcrowding and to promote healthy blooming. This process is done after flowering, usually in the late summer.
Humidity & Misting
Tall Bearded Iris plants do not require high humidity levels and are tolerant of the humidity found in typical outdoor garden environments. They thrive in conditions that mirror their native climates, which often have average humidity levels.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in a well-lit spot, ensure good airflow.
- Outdoor
  Full sun, well-drained soil, space rhizomes apart.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
The life cycle of the Iris 'Terre À Silex', commonly known as bearded iris, begins with seed germination, though they are most commonly propagated by rhizome division. After germination or division, the plant enters a period of vegetative growth, developing long, sword-shaped leaves and establishing a robust root system. Once mature, typically in late spring to early summer, the bearded iris produces showy flowers atop tall stems, which can exhibit a range of colors depending on the cultivar. After blooming, the flowers will fade, and if pollination occurs, seed pods may form, containing seeds that can be used for propagation. The plant then enters a dormant period in late summer to fall where growth slows down, and the foliage may die back, especially in colder climates. Each year, the rhizome expands, giving rise to new shoots that will grow into full plants, thus continuing the life cycle.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Late Summer
- The most popular method of propagation for the Tall Bearded Iris, specifically the Iris 'Terre À Silex', is through division. This is typically done after the blooming period, which is in late summer to early fall, allowing the plant to establish itself before the onset of winter. To propagate by division, the clumps of the iris are carefully dug up and the rhizomes, which are the horizontal underground stems, are separated. Each section of rhizome should have at least one fan of leaves and a portion of roots attached. The leaves are then trimmed to about one-third their height, usually around 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cms), to reduce transpiration and ease establishment. The divisions are replanted in well-draining soil, with the rhizome slightly exposed to the air, ensuring good establishment for the following growing season. It’s crucial to space the divisions 12 to 24 inches (30 to 61 cm) apart to provide ample room for growth.