Prepare your garden for a bright and early spring start by planting Iris reticulata bulbs this autumn. There’s no need to wait all the way until April for colour to burst forth from your borders when these little gems are willing to pop up and show their cheery faces on those cold, short days in February. After new year, it can feel like a long slog through the rest of winter, but these definitely bring a bucket load of spring optimism. It’s difficult to describe how much pleasure Iris reticulata brings at that time of year so it’s best you try some for yourself!

Also known as blue dwarf iris, Iris reticulata is naturally a small plant. Flowering in late winter, it has a gutsy spirit which isn’t at all dampened by freezing temperatures. See these blue irises shine in the winter sun, or let them light up a dull day. Show them off in pots, window boxes or raised planters to give them some extra height so you can easily admire their incredible detail and catch their delicate scent. Iris reticulata are also lovely planted in groups in borders, rockeries and gravel gardens.

Even if you already knew what to expect, you won’t be able to resist Oohing and Ah-ing as the breathtaking blooms of Iris reticulata begin to open. They’re the classic blue-purple dwarf iris with intricate gold and white markings highlighting the outer petals. As species types, they have a good chance of settling in to your garden, but Iris reticulata do need well drained soil and relatively dry conditions in dormancy. Even if they were only to last a year, you’d consider planting Iris reticulata to have been more than worthwhile. Mass these blue dwarf irises for a splendid effect or combine them with snowdrops for a symphony in blue and white.