Description

Iris reticulata J.S. Dijt is a dependable early-season performer, renowned for its rich, regal purple flowers and golden-striped falls. As one of the earliest iris varieties to bloom, it’s a reliable signal of spring in Irish gardens. Compact and versatile, this 10–15 cm dwarf fits beautifully into rockeries, alpine troughs, and terracotta containers, thriving best in sharply drained soil in full sun.

Pairing beautifully with paler cultivars like Iris Alida or Frozen Planet, J.S. Dijt lends itself to layered small-bulb plantings. For broader interest, underplant deciduous shrubs or use along path edges where it can surprise passers-by in February. This cultivar is also excellent for forcing indoors.

Though not as attractive to pollinators as open-faced spring bulbs, it does offer early nectar to awakening bees in mild Irish winters. Combine with Eranthis cilicica, Crocus sieberi, or Chionodoxa forbesii for a subtle, naturalistic woodland palette.