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Family: Iridaceae (eye-rid-AY-see-ee) (Info) Genus: Iris (EYE-ris) (Info) Cultivar: Stairway to Heaven Hybridized by Lauer; Year of Registration or Introduction: 1992
Spacing: 12-15 in. (30-38 cm) 15-18 in. (38-45 cm) 18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Hardiness: USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F) USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F) USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Danger: Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color: Medium Blue White/Near White
Bloom Time: Early midseason (EM)
Foliage: Herbaceous
Other details: Flowers are fragrant Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information: Non-patented
Propagation Methods: By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets) Allow cut surface to callous over before planting
Seed Collecting: N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Awards (if applicable): Honorable Mention Award of Merit Dykes Memorial Medal John C. Wister Memorial Medal (TB)
On Mar 22, 2005, doss from Stanford, CA (Zone 9b) wrote:
"Stairway to Heaven won the American Iris Society Honorable Mention '95; Award of Merit '97; Wister Medal '99; Dykes Medal'00."
The Dykes medal is the highest recognition that the American Iris Society gives to any Iris. An Iris must win all of the first three awards to be eligible for the Dykes Medal.
This has been a very prolific iris for me, multiplying very well and with numerous blooms on each stalk. It's very pretty and frilly, and seems happy crammed-in in a less than sunny spot.
On Oct 20, 2003, laurief from Deer River, MN (Zone 3b) wrote:
Very few tall beardeds (TBs) can survive my growing conditions. This northern MN zone 3b climate inflicts severe, extended cold during the 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.
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN is an incredible iris in every way. In my worst bed, it increased like crazy, never showed the slightest susceptibility to soft rot, survived two winters that killed off several hundred other TBs, and provided me with beautiful blooms this spring. This is what all Dykes Medals winners *should* be! I highly recommend this cultivar.
Laurie
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
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