What's the Difference Between Irises?
Dwarf
Dwarf Irises are between 5 and 15 inches in height. They create beautiful flowers in miniature form. The plant flowers in early spring and are normally fragrant. The violet colored flowers are comprised of three downward hanging falls, and three relatively narrow and upright petals.
Miniature Tall Bearded
Miniature Tall Bearded, also know as Table Irises, grow to a height of around 16 to 27 inches. The blooms on this plant are smaller than the Tall Bearded and far daintier; however, they bloom at the same time as the Tall Bearded variety. They have slender stalks that widen when ascending. These atributes make the flower perfect for arrangements.
Intermediate Bearded
Similar to the Border Bearded growing between 16 and 27 inches in height, the term intermediate refers to the bloom time rather than the height of the plant. They bloom around the same time as the Dwarf and Tall Bearded species, about the same time as tulips begin to grace your garden with the feeling of spring.
Border Bearded
Border Bearded produce bloomstalks between 16 and 27 inches in height. What sets the Border Bearded apart from the Intermediate and Miniature Tall Bearded varieties are that Border Bearded plants bloom around the same time as the Tall Bearded plants as well as the blooms on the Border Bearded are larger than those of the Intermediate and Miniature Tall Bearded.
Tall Bearded
The Tall Bearded are classified as having bloomstalks over 27.5 inches tall. Though most vartieties produce stalks between 38 and 40 inches in height. The blooms on these plants are the largest of all the species listed above with two or more branches that consist of seven of more blossoms. These plants bloom later than most iris varieties.
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