Product Description
Iris s. 'Tutu Blue'(25) Bare Root Plants
Common Name: Common Name: Siberian Iris
Iris sibirica 'Tutu Blue' is an exceptionally robust and visually stunning cultivar of Siberian Iris. This variety is celebrated for its abundant, lush, and substantial foliage, providing a strong textural presence in the garden. Its defining feature is a profusion of exquisitely ruffled, periwinkle blue flowers that create a striking and vibrant display. 'Tutu Blue' is highly valued for its inherent hardiness and prolific blooming, making it an outstanding and low-maintenance addition to nearly any garden, effortlessly introducing both captivating color and refined texture. Siberian Irises are renowned for their elegant, delicate blossoms and commendable disease resistance, performing admirably in various garden settings.
- Height: Reaches a mature height of 27 to 32 inches (69-81 cm).
- Spread: Forms a clump with a spread of 18 to 24 inches (46-61 cm).
- Foliage: Features lush, substantial, green-shaded foliage that provides a strong vertical element and good texture.
- Flowers: Produces a profusion of ruffled, periwinkle blue flowers. Each delicate bloom showcases the classic iris form with intricate veining.
- Bloomtime: Blooms in Early Summer, typically before Japanese Irises but after Tall Bearded Irises.
- Flower Color: Blue shades
- Foliage Color: Green shades
- Bloomtime: Early Summer
- Growth Rate: Medium
- Attracts: Hummingbirds, Bees (Bee Friendly)
- Critter Resistant: Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant
- Other Features: Border Plant, Cut Flower, Mass Planting, Specimen, Focal Point
Iris sibirica 'Tutu Blue' stands out within the Siberian Iris family due to its exceptional vigor and abundant blooming. Its ruffled periwinkle blue flowers offer a charming yet striking visual appeal. This cultivar is notably easy to care for and highly disease-resistant, making it a reliable choice for gardeners seeking beauty without high maintenance. Unlike some other Iris species, Siberian Irises are generally unaffected by juglone, the allelopathic chemical produced by Black Walnut trees, allowing them to be successfully planted in proximity to these trees.
Siberian Irises (Iris sibirica species) are native to a wide range of habitats across central and eastern Europe and parts of Asia, typically found in moist meadows, damp woodlands, and along stream banks. They are accustomed to environments with consistent moisture, especially during their active growing season.
Landscaping Design Tips
'Tutu Blue' offers immense versatility in garden design, particularly excelling in moist, sunny to partly shady locations.
- Water Features: Its natural preference for consistent moisture makes it an exceptional choice for planting around ponds, streams, or bog gardens, where its elegant blooms and upright foliage will enhance the aquatic setting.
- Rain Gardens: An ideal plant for rain gardens, where it can tolerate fluctuating moisture levels, contributing to ecological landscaping.
- Borders and Edging: Use as a distinctive border plant or for defining edges of garden beds, providing a vertical accent and a burst of early summer color.
- Mass Planting: Create a truly spectacular display by mass planting 'Tutu Blue'. Large drifts of these irises will produce a stunning carpet of periwinkle blue flowers in early summer, providing significant visual impact and excellent groundcover. Mass plantings are particularly effective in larger gardens, naturalized areas, or along property lines.
- Specimen or Focal Point: Its profusion of striking blue flowers allows it to stand alone as a specimen plant, drawing the eye and serving as a focal point in a mixed border.
- Under Black Walnut Trees: Due to its resistance to juglone, 'Tutu Blue' is an excellent choice for planting under or near Black Walnut trees, areas where many other plants struggle to thrive.
- Cut Flower Gardens: The elegant blooms are superb as cut flowers, bringing the beauty of the garden indoors.
- Garden Styles: Fits beautifully into Cottage gardens, Eclectic designs, and provides a sophisticated touch in Woodland Shade gardens where it receives adequate light.
Hardiness
Iris sibirica 'Tutu Blue' is remarkably hardy, thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9. This extensive hardiness range ensures its successful cultivation in a vast array of climates.
Planting and Cultivation
- Sunlight: Prefers Full Sun (more than 6 hours of direct sun) for optimal blooming but will tolerate Part Shade (4-6 hours of direct sun), especially in warmer climates where some afternoon shade can be beneficial.
- Soil Requirements: Thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soil. It prefers moderately acidic soil with a pH between 5.2 and 6.4, though it can tolerate a neutral pH (pH = 7.0). It performs well with Average Soil Quality.
- Water Requirements: Has Average Water Needs to Consistent Water Needs. It requires plenty of consistent moisture throughout the growing season to look its best, especially when establishing.
- Deadheading: Deadheading this particular variety will not significantly prolong its blooming period.
- Division: Siberian Irises are best left undisturbed until a noticeable decrease in bloom production occurs, typically after several years. At this point, division can be performed, ideally in the fall, but also successfully in the spring. New clumps may take two to three years to become firmly established before they begin to bloom profusely.
- Southern Climates: Siberian Irises are considered among the best Iris species for cultivation in southern regions due to their adaptability and resilience.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
