Autumn update

Due to a family bereavement,our catalogue and show /opening dates on this site are not fully up to date..The varieties in the existing catalogue are all currently available

If you need more information or details of new varieties available this autumn ,please e-mail or phone for latest information

Show News

We are now back home after two more shows,the RHS Spring Show at Cardiff,where we were awarded a bronze medal and NHS Spring Show Harrogate,where we received a bronze medal for the second year .

The displays for both shows featured short ,intermediate and tall bearded Iris,illustrating the strange weather conditions we are all experiencing this year. The tall bearded Iris are almost 3 weeks ahead of their usual flowering.

The stars of the shows were Raspberry Blush at Cardiff and Honey Glazed and other yellow/brown Iris at Harrogate.

RHS SHOW WESTMINSTER

The show was a great sucess with lots of short bearded Iris in flower and one intermediate Helen Proctor, a near black flowered Iris

SELLING DATES 2007

The nursery will be open on the following dates between 10am-4pm
Saturday 7th April
Saturday 5th May,Saturday 12th May
Saturday 2nd June and Sunday 3rd June
Selling now takes place at a new site at Cornwells Farm Sheephurst Rd Marden
Lots of parking space and plants under cover

Reticulata Iris

Reticulata bulbs are now coming to an end,having given lots of colour in pots and in garden.
J S Dyt is purple variety, Violet Beauty speaks for itself and Harmony is pretty blue.

NEW SELLING SITE

We now have a large polytunnel and hope to sell Iris from here at specified weekends during the year.As you can see it is well stocked with new Iris.Selling weekend dates will be published very soon.

Spring Bulbs

More varieties are emerging every week.Iris reticulata Clairette is a mix of blue and white while Iris reticulata Gordon is a mix of blues.

Spring Bulbs

As promised another sping flowering bulb Lady Beatrix Stanley with stunning blue flowers

SPRING BULBS

At long last the weather is improving and Iris bulbs are emerging. The first to flower are Iris danfordiae,beautiful bright yellow flowers followed by Iris reticulata Purple Gem.
More flowers are emerging everyday so more photographs soon

WORK AT NURSERY

We are currently creating new Iris beds at the nursery . The frame work has been laid out and topsoil and grit to improve drainage are being incorporated.So far we've managed to plant 3 beds with tall bearded Iris but now the weather has changed work has stopped. As soon as weather allows work will restart as we want to continue expanding the number of varieties of Iris we stock.

WINTER FLOWERING IRIS

It is always wonderful to have flowers in the garden during winter months.Iris unguicularis has been in flower for the past two weeks and hopefully will continue until March.


I also grow Iris lazica in the borders in the garden as it will tolerate damper and shadier conditions and flowers are similar.

SHOW NEWS

HARROGATE FLOWER SHOW
26-29th April 2007

We are delighted to be exhibiting at Harrogate Spring Flower Show for a second year running
Once again we will be displaying short and intermediate bearded Iris plus some species Iris
We are hoping to have a new Iris to the nursery Northern Jewel in flower for the show.

SHOW NEWS 2007

RHS SPRING FLOWER SHOW ,CARDIFF

We are delighted to be exhibiting for the first time at the Rhs Show at Cardiff next year on 20-22 April.
We will be providing a display of short and intermediate bearded Iris in the Floral Marquee.
Further show details will be available soon.

Brown is the colour...

Brown seems a popular choice of iris at the moment, if the enquiries on the nursery website are any guide.

Many of the 'brown' irises are more copper than chocolate: Dutch Chocolate is an example where the rich coppery-red flowers are a surprise if you are expecting a dark rich brown that the name implies.

Many others have brown markings on an overall blue or yellow colour scheme - Gallant Moment, for example. Others have brown elements, like Medway Valley which has brown standards and white/purple falls.

Here are two mostly brown tall bearded irises. Firstly, Patina, shown here at the top left with an attractive mix of yellow, olive and brown. Secondly, a traditional favourite, Kent Pride, shown at the bottom left.

Note that all of these irises and more are available though mail order on the nursery website

Climate Change

Water shortages during the summer are probably going to be an annual feature of the UK climate from now on, as are milder and wetter winters.

For those who are worried about hosepipe bans, tall bearded irises provide a drought-resistant, low-maintenance choice of planting, and the huge variety of cultivars that are available provide an almost infinite palette to fit any colour scheme.

Pacific Coast Irises are also drought-resistant when established.

Iris of Sissinghurst in the news

Specialist nursery Iris of Sissinghurst was featured in the May 2006 issue (#104) of The English Garden magazine. The three-page article highlighted the 'singular passion' of the Kent-based nursery who "sell irises - only irises".

Lists updated - new cultivars available

We have just updated two more of our current lists of Irises for sale. New for 2006/2007 in the Iris Siberica list are DREAMING GREEN (white flowers with green flash), FLIGHT OF BUTTERFLIES (numerous blue small flowers), HUBBARD (deep purple with mauve centre), MOUNTAIN LAKE (deep blue flowers), SHAKERS PRAYER (cream flowers with heavy purple veining), SILVER EDGE (mid- blue flowers with silver edge) and TEMPER TANTRUM (purple-violet flowers with a deeper purple flash).

In the Moisture-loving (and others) list, new additions are PACIFIC COAST IRIS: these need acid soil. We are offering MIXED HYBRIDS (orchid-like flowers in various colours), PEACOCK PAVANE (violet flowers and soft yellow markings) and FLOATING WORLD (white falls marked with rose, and rose pink standards).

New Iris Ensata for 2006/2007 are DACE (pure white flowers with pale yellow mark at base), HATSUHIMA (pale purple/pink flowers), MOONLIGHT WAVES (white with lime green centre), PINK FROST (pale pink flowers) and ROSE QUEEN (soft pink flowers)

The new lists are available at http://www.irisofsissinghurst.com/siberian.htm and http://www.irisofsissinghurst.com/moisture_loving.htm