The ‘Better Than Butter’ Iris is a popular bearded iris, known for its cheerful yellow blooms and extended bloom period, making it a favored addition for vibrant, long-lasting floral displays. Its beauty and relatively straightforward care make it a popular choice in various garden settings.
Distinctive Features of Better Than Butter Iris
Its flowers feature ruffled, silky white standards, the upright petals, elegantly trimmed with glittering golden yellow. The falls, or lower petals, are a complementary buttery yellow, often fading to honey yellow, accented by conspicuous tangerine beards.
This tall bearded iris reaches approximately 41 inches (104 cm) tall, with a spread of 12-24 inches. It produces up to 8-9 buds per stem, leading to a long-lasting floral display of up to four weeks. Its bloom season is “Early Mid Late,” meaning it can produce flushes of blooms from late spring through early summer, depending on weather. A slight musky fragrance enhances its appeal.
Planting Your Better Than Butter Iris
For successful growth, select an appropriate site. These plants thrive in full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal flowering and disease resistance. While light shade is tolerated, full sun promotes the best performance.
Well-draining soil is essential for bearded irises to prevent rhizome rot. They prefer humus-rich, medium-moisture soil with a neutral to slightly basic pH (6.1-8.5). For heavy clay, amend with organic matter like compost or coarse sand to improve drainage.
Plant the rhizome so its top half is barely covered or slightly exposed, with roots spread downwards. Space plants 12-24 inches apart for good air circulation and future growth. The best time for planting is July to September, allowing roots to establish before the first frost.
Essential Care for Thriving Blooms
Watering and Fertilization
Consistent watering is important for newly planted irises to establish root systems, typically for the first one to two years. Deep watering at longer intervals encourages deeper root growth and prevents over-saturation. Once established, these irises are drought-tolerant, requiring supplemental watering only during prolonged dry periods. Good drainage is paramount, as excessive moisture can lead to rot.
A low-nitrogen fertilizer (e.g., 6-10-10 blend) is recommended. Apply about six weeks before spring bloom and again after fall planting. High nitrogen can encourage lush foliage at the expense of flowers and increase disease susceptibility.
Deadheading and Division
Deadheading spent blooms maintains appearance and redirects energy from seed production to strengthening the rhizome, potentially encouraging more flowers. Cut the bloom stalk as close to the rhizome as possible after flowering. Do not cut back foliage until late fall, as leaves are essential for photosynthesis, storing energy for the next year’s growth.
Division maintains vigor and bloom production. Overcrowded clumps reduce flowering and increase disease susceptibility. Divide irises every three to four years, ideally in late summer after blooming. This involves lifting rhizomes, discarding older or diseased sections, and replanting healthy, younger rhizomes.
Addressing Common Iris Challenges
While generally robust, ‘Better Than Butter’ Iris may encounter a few common issues.
Pests
The iris borer, a moth larva, feeds on leaves and bores into the rhizome, causing damage and rot. Signs include chewed leaf edges, yellowing leaves, or water-streaked foliage. To manage borers, inspect plants regularly and cut back foliage close to the rhizome in late fall to eliminate overwintering eggs.
Diseases
Bacterial soft rot affects iris rhizomes, characterized by soft, mushy, foul-smelling decay. This condition results from poor drainage or overwatering. If detected, promptly remove affected rhizome parts and allow remaining healthy sections to dry in the sun before replanting. Leaf spot, a fungal issue, appears as brown or black spots on foliage. While usually not harmful, remove and destroy affected leaves to prevent spread.
Lack of Blooms
Lack of blooms often results from improper planting depth, too much shade, or overcrowding. Ensure the rhizome is planted correctly with its top exposed or barely covered, provide ample sunlight, and divide overcrowded clumps to encourage prolific flowering.
Design Ideas for Your Garden
The cheerful yellow hues of ‘Better Than Butter’ Iris make it versatile for various garden designs. Its height and vertical presence allow it to serve as a focal point in perennial beds or borders. Mass plantings create a striking visual impact, offering a broad sweep of buttery yellow.
Plant ‘Better Than Butter’ alongside companion plants with complementary colors or bloom times. Blue or purple irises (e.g., lavender or deep violet) create a beautiful contrast. Other suitable companions include peonies, which provide large, rounded blooms contrasting with the iris’s slender flowers, and alliums, whose spherical flower heads add interesting texture and height. Salvia, delphinium, and hardy geraniums also harmonize well, offering continuous color.
The sword-shaped foliage adds architectural interest even when not in bloom. Place it along a path, near an entrance, or beside a deck. Its bright color is effective in cottage gardens, herbaceous borders, or urban settings, blending harmoniously with hardscaping elements.