Irises
In 2003, our collection was recognised as the national conservatory for the French Iris. In its French formal garden, there are more than 1000 varieties created in France from 1840 to today. It is also here that you can see the most beautiful irises in the world. If there were to be a flower to represent the rainbow, surely it would be the iris, whose range of colours is the widest.
Completely Iris-istibles !
Antique French Irises
Dating from 1840 to 1980, our antique irises are the ancesters of their modern counterparts. As you stroll among the rows, the history of the French Iris unfolds, the evolution of its characteristics plain to see. A few antique foreign irises are also shown at the back of this area.
The Recent French Iris, from 1980 to today
To illustrate the variety of colours of the iris, in this setting designed to evoke the maze in Renaissance gardens, each row is devoted to a single colour: solid colour from white to black but also two-tone, speckled or bearded, to extremely spectacular effect. All of these irises have been created in France by breeders, be they professional or amateur.
The Terraces of the Most Beautiful Irises in the World, and the Interlaces of other Irises
“The Most Beautiful” or rather the irises which have received year after year the 2 most prestigious prizes in the world: the Premio Firenze (Florence Prize) in Italy and the Dykes Memorial Medal in the USA. These terraces overlook the interlaces of topiaried spindle plants, repeating the patterns of the ‘embroidery beds’ – the sculpted hedges typical of the French formal garden – where we find the other irises. Here we see the spuriae, the sibiricae, the reticulatae and so on, to go on to the flowering of large iris germanicae.
In the month of May, the Irises are in full flower!
At the Jardins de Brocéliande, we take you on a tour of our collection during the seasonal stroll of the month of May.
Take this opportunity to discover the incredible colours of this spring flower.
