There may be no other flowers that exhibit such a diverse range of floral colors. Bearded iris, Iris X germanica, classifies as a hybrid of Iris pallida and Iris variegata. The genus of Iris derives its name from the Greek word for rainbow. As the name implies, it includes all colors of the spectrum. Floral form, height and, for some, fragrance is also quite variable.
About sixty thousand cultivars of bearded iris are supposedly documentable. It is difficult to estimate how many lack documentation. The smaller miniature cultivars are only a few inches tall. The tallest cultivars may grow four feet tall. Although they classify as summer bulbs, they are fleshy rhizomes that bloom for spring. Some will bloom again for autumn.
Bearded iris multiply whether or not anyone wants them to. Their rhizomes branch in two directions after bloom. Besides that, side shoots develop randomly from plump rhizomes. Congested rhizomes may bloom less. Division during summer promotes bloom. Division may happen annually or every few years. Bearded iris prefer sunny and warm exposure.
Tony Tomeo 
One of the most interesting and beautiful flowers, and yes, so many colors.
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Yes, it is awesome. It is difficult to limit the variety when it is so easy to get bits and pieces of more from friends and neighbors.
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I had some years ago.
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Do they ever go away?!
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Yea mine did. They were planted in an area that got less sun as years went on and some things around them got bigger. Totally my fault.
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I still grow my Iris pallida that I got from my great grandmother’s garden before I was in kindergarten.
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That’s a lovely traditional thing.
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I likely mentioned somewhere else that almost everything within my gardens is from ‘somewhere’.
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You gather up beauty and keep it.
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I suppose. Many of my favorites are not so pretty though; and because there is so much, I do not acquire prettier cultivars. I mean, I only look through catalogues, but purchase nothing.
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good one for painting
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I only grow them, but know nothing about painting. To me, some sort of look like they are painted.
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Yes, I hear you Tony
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