which Iris flowers in May?

[wooden shoe]

And not only flower in May, but is also suited for my garden?

After the tulips, daffodils and crocus have flowered there is always a quiet period in the sunny part of the garden. I have decided to brighten up the empty spots with iris. But which?
This part of the garden is sunny, has well drained sand and is relatively dry. The sand has a slight amount of humus and is about neutral.

I am searching for Iris which are flowering in May, are well adapted to this kind of soil and preferably keeps down in winter so the other bulbs have room in spring. An Iris who is perfectly suited is Iris germanica. I like them and have 2 cultivars but would also like different types. Any suggestions?

[PeterT]

If you like germanica and it grows well, pallida, variagata, aphylla, lutescens, and reichenbachii should be easy.
so long as it is definately not limey Iris thomsoni, chrysophylla and innominata should be happy in cooler spots, douglasii is more leafy but the easiest of this group.
Any of the dutch/spanish iris, latifolia is more leafy
Iris cycloglossa,
Iris typhifolia and small forms of sibirica, I forrestii
Iris cristata, tenuis, tectorum, milesii,
Iris setosa forms
 

[wooden shoe]

Hi Peter,
Thank you for your quick and extensive response. Of your examples I grow Iris setosa and Iris forrestii close to the garden pond because I always thought they would need lots of water. Is this only partially true or can they stand more drought than I thought?

Of Iris cristata and the like I had the thoughts that they would like more humeous ground and some shade, but do they also do well in full sun?
Hope you can help me again 

[PeterT]

forrestii is very tolerant so are sibirica and typhifolia.
There are many forms of setosa/ tridentata/ hookeri from 5cm to 1m high
cristata likes a cooler place like where moss grows. Try covering it with some gravel to keep the roots cool.

[PeterT]

smaller forms of Iris lactea and I sintinisii are very tough plants too and I missouriensis is lovely but a little bigger and very tolerant

[wooden shoe]

Thank you, there's certainly enough choice in the options to make a nice pick. Next year's exchange I will see what I can get hold off. And I happen to have seedlings of Iris variegata and Iris lactea. When they are large enough I will locate them there.

[Lesley Cox]

And you would find all the different forms and hybrids of I. sibirica start now, then the Japanese irises and many species like clarkei, delavayi, bulleyana, chrysographes and so on. Really the MAIN iris time, for the taller kinds at least, is late spring into summer. We have many in flower at Christmas (southern hemsphere)

[PeterT]

Lesley, the reqest was for iris on sunny well drained sand which would succede spring bulbs. I clarkii might do but bulleyana, wilsonii and most sibirica cultivars might struggle with drought and if they succeded would be too leafy. as for ensatas and laevigata they would be too big and would need a lot of preparation for water retention, or to be grown in tubs of water besides being rather large to grow amoung small bulbs
One easy plant I did forget though is Iris florentina.
I left out the smallest pogons suaveolens, attica, pumila, pseudopumila and obscure items -regelias Chinensis etc as I thought the ones I listed were better ones to start
with and find out what would succede.

[Lesley Cox]

Sorry, I didn't read far enough, just saw the need for irises to come after other things after a spring blooming. Ignore it all.

[Tom Waters]

If you are not restricting yourself to species, there are many lovely tall bearded hybrids that would fit the bill.

[Tecophilaea King]

Which Iris flowers in May? Not exactly Northern Hemisphere, but thought it interesting to show what is starting off our Iris season in May and the Southern Hemisphere.
This is Iris unguicularis Purple Trinity which I was lucky enough to have acquired from our local Iris group and is I believe an improved, named New Zealand selection of this species.

[Lesley Cox]

Bill I'm delighted to see 'Purple Trinity' doing well with you. I lost mine through it being overgrown without my noticing, some years ago. I don't remember it as being QUITE so brilliantly coloured as that but all the same, it was a very rich purple and very neat and compact, compared with other unguicularis forms, and of good, strong texture in the petals. If you have a spare plant sometime, I would be very grateful to buy it or swap for something good.