Tall Bearded Iris 'Stepping Out'

Awards: American Iris Society Honorable Mention '65, Award of Merit '67, Dykes Medal '68

'Stepping Out' is an Iris that has never needed staking in my garden. I generally don't like purple plicatas on white backgrounds but I ...Read Morelove this one. The flower has great ruffles and substance and the very white backgound shines against the wide dark purple rim and dark purple stands. The flower is on the large side. Quite a presence in the garden. Seeing this Iris you would never guess that it was introduced 40 years ago.

Very few tall beardeds (TBs) can survive my growing conditions. This northern MN zone 3b climate inflicts severe, extended cold during t...Read Morehe winter months, often with little snow cover for insulation. Summer temps can exceed 90 degrees F. My soil is very heavy, compacted clay with a slightly acid pH. A large local deer population frequently tramples and sometimes grazes on my irises in early spring and late fall. Iris borers are present but managed successfully with a granular systemic grub control product. Weeds are abundant and only occasionally beaten back by an admittedly lazy gardener (yours truly). Fertilization is inconsistent, when provided at all. Most TBs here are growing with less than 6 hrs of sun per day, so growth and bloom are not what they could be under full sun conditions. I have lost hundreds of weaker TB cultivars over the years, so the few that have managed to survive are worthy of high praise.

STEPPING OUT is extraordinarily tough and stunningly beautiful. Its bold contrast of light and dark colors makes an undeniably striking statement in the garden. I highly recommend this cultivar.

Laurie

38" HISTORIC Large white areas sharply patterned edges of blue-black-violet. DM 1968 Schreiner 1964
The contrast between white a...Read Morend the very dark edge is great. Grows and blooms well. zone 6