Iris in Landscape Design
Designing with Iris: Lessons in Artistry from Chelsea
For this blog, I’m drawing inspiration from the garden that, to my mind, most intelligently and artistically demonstrates the potential of iris in landscape design: Sarah Price’s Nurture Landscapes Garden, Chelsea Flower Show, 2023. It was, quite simply, breathtaking — a masterclass in restraint, harmony, and painterly planting.
Bearded irises often arrive in gardens as singular statements — bold blooms punctuating a space. But in Sarah’s hands, they became threads in a broader tapestry, echoing colour and form with nuance and sensitivity. Her use of the Benton End irises — soft, smoky purples and muddy mauves — blended seamlessly with the naturalistic palette of the hardscape, lending the garden a deep sense of cohesion.
If you're thinking about incorporating irises into your own garden, here are a few design considerations that can help bring that same sense of artistry to life:
Start with the Built Environment
Begin with what’s hardest to change — the colours and textures of your home, walls, paving or fencing. A common mistake is to ignore these elements, resulting in plantings that clash instead of complement. Red brick and powder blue, for example, can jostle awkwardly unless carefully balanced. Sarah’s scheme was rooted in warm, earthen tones — stone, clay, limewash — which were mirrored beautifully in her planting palette.
Refine Your Colour Palette
Choosing colours for the garden can feel daunting — but a simple colour wheel can be a helpful tool. Are you drawn to complementary contrasts, or tonal harmony? In Sarah’s design, the subtle purples of the Benton irises found quiet echoes throughout the scheme — in the haze of thistles, the smoky tint of sedges, the blush of a seed head.
Here’s a good place to start exploring colour relationships: Rachel Rossi's Colour Wheel Guide
Match Growing Conditions
It’s easy to fall in love with plants when they’re grouped attractively at a nursery, but beauty fades if growing needs clash. Bearded irises prefer dry summers and cool winters. When planning, choose companions that share similar requirements — not just in light and water needs, but in temperament. Mediterranean herbs, grasses, and silver-foliaged perennials are often a good match.
Think About Flowering Time
Do you want a spring crescendo — a brief, dazzling moment — or a garden that shifts slowly through the seasons? In show gardens like Sarah’s, every plant must peak at once. But in real gardens, staggered interest may be more desirable. Irises tend to have a defined window — so pairing them with plants that peak before or after helps build a rhythm in your planting.
Consider Structure and Form
Bearded irises don’t just offer flowers — they give architecture. Their sword-like fans remain through much of the year, offering vertical accents and clean lines. This makes them excellent companions in structural planting schemes. But think beyond individual clumps: What is the overall mood of your garden? Do you prefer the softness of a naturalistic style, the formality of clipped hedges, or the texture of native plantings? Once you’ve defined your stylistic direction, plant form becomes a powerful design element.
Once these foundational decisions are in place — palette, form, flowering rhythm, and plant compatibility — selecting the right iris becomes easy.
Because, truly, there is an iris for every garden, every colour scheme, and every style.
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