Iris Stepping Out \ Stepping Out

Iris "Stepping Out" (Stepping Out) is a bearded iris of German origin, a perennial rhizomatous plant reaching a height of 90 to 120 cm and a width of about 40–70 cm. The leaves are basal, linear, gathered in fan-shaped clusters, and retain their decorative quality until autumn. The flowers are large – 10 to 15 cm in diameter, located on long sturdy stems and bloom from May to June.

The appearance of the flowers attracts with contrasting shades: the three upper petals are painted blue-violet with rare white streaks, while the three outer ones are white with a dark-violet border. The beard (the three lower petals) has a mustard-violet color, creating a bristly pattern effect. Such a bright and harmonious design makes the iris an ideal element for bouquets, flower beds, rock gardens, and garden compositions.

For successful cultivation of "Stepping Out", a sunny location or partial shade, loose soil without waterlogging is required. Tubers are planted from April to early October; after flowering, it is recommended to replant or divide the bushes to improve rooting. The plant is frost-hardy down to -34 °C (zones 3–4). Watering is done twice a week during flowering, while fertilizing is done three times at each stage of vegetation. After withering, stems are cut down to 2 cm, and roots are covered with a layer of soil up to 5 cm for protection from cold.