Iris 'Summer Olympics'

Iris 'Summer Olympics': Ruffled Yellow Going for Gold Twice

Bright greenish-yellow on top, white below and orange beards, heavily ruffled like it's mid-routine. 'Summer Olympics' sticks the landing, then COMES BACK FOR ANOTHER EVENT.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Iris (Tall Bearded Group), often sold as Iris germanica
• Common Name: Bearded Iris, Reblooming Iris
• Height: 75 cm (30 in)
• Spread: 45–60 cm (18–24 in)
• Flowers: Bright greenish-yellow standards, white falls with yellow shoulders, and orange beards. Heavily ruffled.
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer (June to July), with possible rebloom in late summer or fall
• Foliage: Upright, sword-shaped green leaves
• Features: Reblooming, good cut flower

Where to Plant: Put it near the front or middle of a sunny border, where the bright yellow lights up the bed and shows from across the yard. The stems also last well in a vase.

Companion Plants: Geum TEMPO™ 'Rose' brings pink flowers at 20 to 53 cm from April into June, before the iris opens. Lavandula 'Hidcote Superior' adds purple flowers at 40 cm from June into September, a classic match for yellow. Eryngium yuccifolium rises behind to 90 to 150 cm with white flowers from July into September. All three grow in full sun.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Keep the top of the rhizome at or just below the surface, and don't cover it with mulch. In heavy clay, plant on a slight mound or in a raised bed. Rebloom needs energy. Feed lightly with a balanced, low-nitrogen fertilizer in spring and again after the first flush, and water during summer dry spells. Snap off spent stalks at the base. Clean up old foliage in fall to help control iris borer. Divide every three to five years in mid to late summer.

History: 'Summer Olympics' was registered in 1976 by Raymond G. Smith, introduced around 1980, and has earned a reputation as a reliable rebloomer. The American Iris Society's rebloom records include reports from Ontario and from USDA zones 4 through 9.

Final Thoughts: Deer resistant, drought tolerant once established and great in a vase. Plant it and give it the podium. PERFECT TENS ALL ROUND.