This article is part of a weekly series published in the Batavia Daily News by Jan Beglinger, Agriculture Outreach Coordinator for CCE of Genesee County.

Master Gardener Corner: Companion Plants for Iris Originally Published: Week of June 7

This week’s article was written by a guest author, Genesee County Master Gardener Brenda Fox

June is perennial gardening month. Unlike annuals that need to be replaced every year, perennial plants come back year after year. Perennials offer gardeners a wide variety of plant forms, leaf texture and color, plus a wide variety of colorful blooms through the seasons. Although perennials are typically more expensive to buy than annuals or packets of seeds, consider them an investment in your landscape. Once established, many perennials will spread filling the garden with more color. Part of the fun of gardening with perennials is that different perennials can be combined to

create a tapestry of color in the garden through the seasons. Photo courtesy of Brenda Fox

This week’s article was written by Master Gardener Brenda Fox, who writes about some of her favorite perennial combinations for this time of year, namely iris and some of its companions.

There's no question about it ‐ glamorous iris are divas in the late spring garden. Their voluptuous form and saturated tones mean they can dazzle while dancing solo in the spotlight. But some of the most enchanting scenes are when the diva performs while surrounded by her supporting cast. As in all choreography, timing is everything. Since an iris plant generally blooms for less than two weeks, companions have a narrow window for bloom periods to overlap.

How can you find just the right combinations? One easy answer ‐ when your iris are blooming, look around you. Just open your eyes to what else is blooming in a different part of the garden, or in your neighborhood. Is it just coming into bloom? At its peak? Or starting to fade? Then either take some photos to capture those bloom combinations, or better yet, dig up the plants then and there, while you are motivated, and while you still remember which iris is which.

Ok, I’ll admit it. I have favorites, and for me it’s all the shades of purple. Fortunately for iris lovers, spring has a wide choice of matching shades of blue and purple throughout iris season. Absolute essentials are catmint (Nepeta), salvias, and hardy geraniums. All are long blooming and peacefully coexist with iris for years. Other possible companions include, lupines, Veronica austriaca ‘Royal Blue’, the tall blue spires of baptisia, and even clumps of chives. Clematis ‘Elsa Spath’ blooms early enough to join the show. The violet spheres of allium ‘Purple Sensation’ have a short bloom time, which coincides with the early to mid‐ season bearded iris.

I have found red blooms to be uncommon in early June. The long‐flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) makes a spiny mound with blooms in varying shades of red. However there are several shrubs with deep burgundy foliage to make a dark foil for iris, including prickly red barberry, purple robe smoke bush (Cotinus coggyria), and red‐leaved trees like Japanese maples or ornamental purple leaf plum (Prunus cerasifera) ‘Krauter Vesuvius.’

Yellow is another common spring color, but use care when matching yellows – bright yellows and soft yellows don’t always pair well together. Bright yellow or lime green foliage adds big, bold contrast. For a yellow spring feast add ‘Screaming Yellow’ baptisia, yellow tree peony, or the bright yellow foliage of spiraea ‘Goldflame.’ Try dwarf creeping yarrow ‘Golden Fleece’ (Achillea tomentosa) which blooms earlier than standard yarrow.

Dwarf iris bloom earlier than tall bearded iris, and in my experience, they are more particular about the company they keep. While the taller iris handle competition well, these types only tolerate shorter dance partners, or else they sulk and don’t bloom. In my garden, they co‐bloom with creepers like ajuga, Johnny‐ jump‐up (Viola tricolor) and creeping phlox, and with bulbs like Camassia leichtlinii and wood hyacinth (Hyacinthoides hispanica). Shrubs and trees that flower at the same time are magnolias, viburnums, and flowering almonds. Shades of purple are wonderful planted in front of lilacs.

Sometimes the best combinations are the simplest, such as a border of iris against flowering or colorful shrubs. Shrubs that bloom with tall bearded iris are weigela and viburnums. Iris and peonies are an easy duet with naturally complementary colors. Iris bloom with the early and mid‐season peonies, so avoid combining them with the late blooming types of peonies.

I consider these next three perennials the top three partners for iris, based on overlapping bloom time, reliability, low maintenance, and plain good looks.

Plant catmint (Nepeta) for long blooming, lavender colored spires. Nepeta faassenii is shorter, earlier to bloom, and has a shorter bloom season than Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’, which is not low at all, but 20 inches tall, and blooms for months.

Hardy geraniums, these are “weavers,” with a small footprint they send out colorful tendrils that lightly weave through any flower bed with bright or subtle splashes of colors in peak bloom all through iris season. With colors ranging from pure white, soft pink, smoky rose, hot pink, lilac purple to deep purple and more, there are many to complement your favorite iris.

Salvias. Who can resist their striking spikes? They bloom at the same time as tall bearded iris, and also like it dry. For deep purple use shorter ‘May Night’, or taller ‘Caradonna’; for rose color use ‘Rose Queen’ and ‘Eveline’ is a lovely baby pink.

You too can choreograph an iris spectacular in June, but while enjoying the visual extravaganza, don’t forget to stop and smell the iris!