The popular iris (Iris sp.) family of flowers was named for the Greek god of the rainbow, Iris. Like its namesake, irises are available in every color of the rainbow as well as many patterned and combination types. There are several varieties of iris grown in the U.S., including the bearded, Siberian and Japanese iris. Irises grow well throughout much of the country, requiring little maintenance, making this family of flowers an ideal choice for novice flower gardeners.
White
Many types of irises, including bearded and Siberian irises, feature a white, ruffled bloom. Bearded irises are characterized by a forward-facing bloom, featuring upper and lower petals. This gives it the illusion of having a beard. Other forms of irises feature similarly ruffled petals but lack the bearded structure. Some cultivators of white bearded irises include Angel Choir, Ice Sculpture and Mt. Olympus irises. For white flowers without the beard, consider white Siberian irises such as Butter and Sugar, Little White, Snow Queen and White Swirl. The Butter and Sugar iris features a white bloom with a yellow fall.
Blue
Blue is one of the least common floral colors found naturally, and often desired by flower gardeners. Often "blue" flower cultivators are more purple or lavender in color. The iris family of flowers features a number of true blue flowers. Perhaps one of the most well-known blue irises is the Blue Flag, a wild iris. This flower is often found growing in meadows and wildflower fields. Two kinds of Siberian irises are grown for their blue blooms including Dewfull and Orville Fay. The Orville Fay bloom features bright blue petals and darker veins. The Sea Shadows Siberian irises combines shades of aqua and blue. For bearded irises lovers, the Marisopa Skies features a light blue top and darker blue beard.
Purple
Most Japanese irises, also known as butterfly irises, are some combination of purple and pink. These irises were originally grown in Japan for the royal families, according to the All American Meadows website. Today, the purple Japanese irises bloom best when planted in moist ground, but require little additional care. Unlike bearded irises, the blooms of the Japanese iris are flatter, facing up towards the sun rather than outward. Another name for Japanese or butterfly irises, is the Spuria iris. Some purple cultivators include Highline Lavender, Imperial Night and Premier. The Highline Lavender iris features a lavender and yellow bloom. The Imperial Night iris sports a deep purple and bright yellow bloom. The Premier iris is a lavender to blue color with a yellow flush at the center.
Yellow
While many colored iris blooms feature yellow throats or centers, some blooms feature bright yellow as its main color. Like the Blue Flag, Yellow Flag irises are common wild irises, though more common to Europe than the U.S. While Japanese or Spuria irises are most commonly known for their pink and purple varieties, there are several yellow cultivators including the Golden Lady and Sunny Day. Other Spuria irises combine yellow and white blooms like the Ruffled Canary and the Shelford Giant. Bearded iris gardeners looking for yellow flowers should turn to the Lemon Brocade, Lemon Mist or Jeanie Price varieties.
