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Bearded Iris

There are three main types of irises. The iris on display in our garden is bearded iris. Different types of irises are native to different lands, from Europe to Asia to North America. Bearded iris is named because of the small row of hairs on each sepal. Plants grow 2 to 3 feet tall and emerge from rhizomes (underground stems). Iris flowers are unique because they have showy sepals that are often larger than the petals. Irises produce essential oil used in aromatherapy.

Flower buds of a purple iris on its thick stalk Top view of an open iris with petals that fade out to darker purple from the white centers The profile of an iris flower shows the shape of the petals — some going up like a cup and colorful petals on each side opening down around the center — and the row of small hairs on each showy petal Profile view of a yellow and red iris and the row of hairs on the petals that open out Pink iris flower