This is the old fashioned heirloom purple German bearded iris, a close cousin to Iris albicans, that has graced Southern yards, cemeteries, and old homesites for generations. We believe it to be the variety Iris 'William A. Setchell', and an old name for it is Iris germanica "Purple Iris." Although we're not sure of the EXACT provenance of this old fashioned purple iris, as there are many, we believe it to be this. We will continue to do our homework, but in the meantime, consider us the old bulb pass-along authority. We want to get this GREAT bulb from its "abandoned" status to "cherished" by you. For more information about old purple German bearded iris, we highly recommend Scott Ogden's book, Garden Bulbs for the South.
Blooms: Softball-size, rich purple blooms with the classic bearded iris form — upright standards above ruffled, drooping falls — that emit a strong, honey-sweet fragrance. They open in spring (often around April in the South) on sturdy stems about 2-3 feet tall above fans of gray-green, sword-shaped foliage. You will receive large and healthy tubers (rhizomes).
Planting: Plant the rhizomes in late summer or fall in full sun (at least 6 hours a day) and well-drained soil; bearded irises will rot in soggy ground. Set each rhizome at the soil surface, with the top of the rhizome just showing and the roots spread out below, and firm the soil around the roots. Don't bury the rhizome or cover it with mulch, since bearded irises like to "bake" in the sun. Space them about 12-18 inches apart with the leaf fans all facing the same direction for a tidy clump, and water well after planting.
After Blooming: Snip off spent flower stalks at the base, but leave the foliage alone so it can feed the rhizome for next year. Every 3-4 years, when the clumps get crowded and blooming slows, divide them in late summer and share the extras with friends — that is how this old iris has survived for so long.
Landscaping Tip: Plant them in drifts along a sunny walk, fence line, or mailbox bed, or pair them with heirloom daffodils and old roses for a classic cottage-garden look.