07/15/2025
Nick's Newsies Flora & Fauna 07/15/2025
Welcome to the twenty-eighth post in a weekly series entitled "Nick's Newsies Flora & Fauna!" This is a dive into the various plants and animals the Nick's Newsies have, and each Tuesday we'll feature a different Nick's Newsie family member. If you want to try your hand at pet ownership or work that green thumb, check out these posts for ideas and care instructions!
Acquired in September of 2011, this sunshine-loving landscaping plant has made quite the splash at Producer Donna's home. Mellow and forgiving, it's grown through heat and cold, rain and shine. Say hello to Producer Donna's multicolored wonder, Iris × germanica, better known as the Bearded Iris!
The purple irises were given to Producer Donna by a very nice gentleman, whose wife's favorite color was purple. Irises were her favorite flower, and when she became bedridden due to illness her husband planted every variety of purple iris he could find outside her bedroom window. She lived long enough to see them bloom the following summer. After her passing, he dug most of the irises up and gave the rhyzomes away, spreading her love to as many people as he could.
Morphology
This rhizomatous perennial is beautiful inside and outside of its late spring blooming season, with long blade-like leaves of green extending up to 47 in. (120 cm.) high. They'll fan out as the plant grows, sometimes to 12 in. (30 cm.) wide, dominating their space. Their large ornate flowers come in every color imaginable, as hundreds of cultivars exist. Producer Donna's bloom in shades of spectacular yellow and beautiful purple. These irises get their name from the fuzzy "beard" located at the upper base of the petals that droop forward, known as "falls."
Distribution & Habitat
Iris × germanica is thought to have originated in the Mediterranean region, and has been widely naturalized throughout Europe. Thanks to its beautiful blooms and sturdy nature it enjoys a worldwide distribution for landscaping. Well-draining soil is its favorite habitat, but it can exist in everything from sand to heavy clay.
Care
Full sun and plenty of water! They're relatively drought tolerant, but do your best to keep them in that nice zone between dry and damp. Soggy soil could lead to root rot, so well-draining or sandy soil is the route to go. Low-nitrogen fertilizer in the spring will further encourage blooming. Irises don't mind temperature extremes so long as their soil allows for excess rain or snowmelt to drain away. They'll retain leaves in the winter, so don't cut them back. Every three to five years you'll need to dig the rhyzomes of the irises up to separate them. You can cull out diseased roots at this time, and propagate new plants by separating them from the rest!
With Regard to Other Pets
Sadly if you're going to keep irises, keep your fur friends away from them. Irises produce compounds like iridin, irisin, and irisine. These can be harmful irritants to cats, and if your furry pal has a nibble of iris they may become afflicted with vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, mouth ulcers and dermatitis. If you suspect your fur child has had a bit of iris for a snack, contact your vet immediately for care.
We hope you found this article informative and fun! Stay tuned for future installments, available on Tuesdays, as we continue to explore the various flora and fauna the Nick's Newsies care for! If you have any questions or would like to submit your own flora and fauna for consideration by all means contact us here on Facebook, or email us at [email protected]. As always we love you all, and have a great day!
