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Overview
Iris germanica 'Victoria Falls' is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial reaching 36-40 inches (90-100 cm) tall and 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) wide. The cultivar is a Tall Bearded reblooming iris, with sword-shaped fans of leaves 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) tall, mid blue-green, growing from horizontal rhizomes sitting at or just below soil level. Spring flowers open in May in zones 5-7, each 6-7 inches (15-18 cm) across with three upright standard petals and three downward-curved fall petals in clear medium blue, paired with a white beard tipped yellow-orange. Each fan produces a flower stalk holding 7-10 buds; an established clump carries 6-12 stalks across the bloom period. In zones 5-9, plants typically rebloom in late August through October when summer moisture is consistent; rebloom is unreliable in zones 3-4 and in summer-dry climates. Plants spread by rhizome offsets at 3-5 inches (8-13 cm) per year. Foliage may yellow at the leaf tips by midsummer. Iris borer can hollow rhizomes from May through August in eastern North America, and bacterial soft rot of rhizomes develops in poorly drained soils.
Native Range
Iris germanica 'Victoria Falls' was registered as a Tall Bearded reblooming iris by Schreiner's Iris Gardens in 1977; the I. germanica cultivar group is of horticultural origin in temperate Europe and the Mediterranean basin, derived from I. pallida, I. variegata, and related species in the Iris subgenus Iris. The cultivar has no wild range and exists only in cultivation.Suggested Uses
Used in mid-to-back perennial border placements and Tall Bearded iris collections spaced 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) apart, where the upright stems carry blue flowers above lower spring-bloom companions. Container culture in pots of at least 5 gallons (19 L) is workable in zones 5-9 with shallow planting that keeps the rhizome at the soil surface. Cut flower production from a mature clump runs 6-12 stems per spring bloom season.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 3'4"
Width/Spread1'6" - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Spring bloom opens in May in zones 5-7, with peak bloom over 2-3 weeks. In zones 8-9, spring bloom may begin in mid-April and finish by early May. A second flush in late August through October occurs in zones 5-9 when summer moisture is consistent; rebloom is unreliable in zones 3-4 and in dry-summer regions. Individual flowers last 2-4 days; spring bloom totals 14-21 days, with rebloom adding 14-30 days under suitable conditions.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
clear medium blue with white beard tipped yellow-orangeFoliage Description
mid blue-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Water 1 inch (2.5 cm) per week during establishment, and continue regular watering through summer to support rebloom; spring-blooming-only Tall Bearded cultivars tolerate drier summers, but reblooming cultivars depend on summer moisture. Fertilize lightly with a low-nitrogen 5-10-10 product at 1 oz per square yard (35 g/m²) in early spring, again after spring bloom, and a third time in late July; high nitrogen promotes soft rot. Iris borer (Macronoctua onusta) eggs hatch in early spring on overwintering leaf debris; larvae tunnel into rhizomes from May through August in eastern North America. Bacterial soft rot develops in soils that stay wet at the rhizome surface, producing soft, foul-smelling tissue that is excised during routine inspection. Leaf spot can develop in humid conditions and produces brown leaf lesions without permanent damage. Division every 3-4 years in late July or August maintains stand vigor and rebloom production.Pruning
Spring flower stalks are cut to the rhizome after spring bloom finishes. Foliage is left intact through summer to fuel rhizome storage and rebloom; yellowing or damaged leaves can be trimmed at the base. Rebloom stalks are cut to the rhizome after the second flush. After the first hard frost, leaves are cut back to a 4-6 inch (10-15 cm) fan, which removes overwintering iris borer eggs.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summerfall
Maintenance Level
moderateContainer Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons