"Contrast" is this plicata's middle name. Ruffled bright white petals are edged with deep purple margins to striking effect. The harvest is bountiful indeed, with a flush of bloom early and late.

There is a small but growing number of Bearded Iris that bloom gloriously in June, then flower again in late summer and into fall. They have no requirements beyond a light dose of fertilizer once the first bloom is complete and regular watering when things get hot and dry. This small effort is amply rewarded as the season draws to a close.

Iris is a large genus with upwards of 200 species, which range from inconspicuous wildlings to the extravagant Tall Bearded Iris, which we offer in fall only. Plenty of sun and well-drained soil with a pH near neutral are the primary requirements for their success. Bearded Iris are best planted in the fall because they go dormant in June and are harvested in August. We start shipping bareroot plants in early September, continue to late October for warmer zones. For Zones 3–4 (yes, they are hardy in Zone 3), we recommend early orders, which we will fill in early to mid-September.