Iris bucharica 'Top Gold'

Native to rocky, mountainous regions of Kyrgyzstan, brilliant little Iris bucharica ‘Top Gold’ brings an eruption of irrepressible, sunny yellow color to late spring and early summer gardens. This Juno Iris sends up sturdy stems lined with up to seven blossoms apiece. The bright, lemon-yellow standards and falls catch the eye with the latter tattooed in bronze near the hafts. A spray of lance-shaped, channeled leaves in gleaming green with blue-green undersides round out the show. Plants grow best in well-drained soil and are superb for containers, too.

Juno Iris is a subgenus in the Iris family. Its members hail from regions in the Middle East and Central Asia, with one particularly adventurous relative at home in areas of the Mediterranean. There are roughly 60 species of Junos. All are bulbous Iris (as opposed to rhizomatous Iris), and the naked bulbs can be recognized by their round form with a fleshy root attached at the base. Junos are sometimes called Corn Iris because their foliage resembles a Corn plant. Junos produce flowers with smaller, more pendent standards than their rhizomatous cousins, the Tall Bearded Iris. Some have no upright petals at all. The exception is Iris cycloglossa, a Juno that is affectionately known as “rabbit’s ears” for its comparatively large blooms and standards that gradually flatten with age to display horizontally. The cultural preferences of Juno Iris are variable (see descriptions of individual varieties), but all prefer well-drained soil and are dormant in summer.

The Iris genus is named for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, and it’s easy to see why. These brilliantly colored, spring-flowering perennials are part of a huge plant family that contains upwards of 300 species which are native to Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America. Iris range from timid and inconspicuous wildlings to the splendid and extravagant Tall Bearded Iris, which create striking vertical highlights in the late spring border. The chosen habitats of Iris range from standing water to formal borders, and there is scarcely a color or combination of colors that can't be found. Iris plants are fairly indestructible. They thrive in most parts of the country and are largely critter resistant. Adding to their appeal, they are attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators. Even after bloom, the vertical foliage persists through the growing season. Plant a variety and enjoy a rainbow of colors that will return year after year in your garden.

For more information on growing Iris, click Growing Guide.