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Bloom calendar
Stairway to Heaven
Tall Bearded (TB) · Larry Lauer, 1993, USA
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Tall Bearded (TB)
- Height × spread: 40 in tall × about 18 to 24 in wide (102 cm × 45 to 60 cm; varies with clump age)
- Bloom window: early to midseason spring
- Color & flower form: near-amoena: creamy off-white standards, medium blue falls; white beards; ruffled
- Fragrance: 1 trace
- USDA hardiness: zones 3 to 10
- Breeder / Year / Origin: Larry Lauer, 1993, USA
- Awards/registration: American Dykes Medal 2000; AIS Award of Merit 1997; Honorable Mention 1995
- Pet safety: avoid
How it differs
- Earlier bloom than many tall bearded cultivars.
- Distinct blue and white presentation.
- Slight fragrance rather than strong scent.
- Tall 40 inch stature for back-of-border placements.
Strengths
- American Dykes Medal winner with strong show record.
- Reliable garden habit in full sun sites.
- Broad, ruffled flowers with clear color separation.
Care in one minute
Site: full sun for 6 to 8 hours each day.
Soil: well drained and lean to neutral or slightly alkaline; keep rhizome tops just at or slightly above the soil surface.
Water: water to establish and during extended dry spells; avoid waterlogged soil to prevent rot.
Feeding: apply a low-nitrogen fertilizer such as 5-10-10 in early spring and again just after bloom; keep granules off the rhizomes.
Grooming: remove spent blooms and cut stalks after flowering; divide clumps every 3 to 5 years.
Winter: in cold regions cut foliage to 3 to 6 inches in late fall and avoid mulching over rhizomes.
Watch‑outs
- Requires excellent drainage to avoid soft rot.
- Tall scapes may need wind shelter in exposed sites.
- Divide every three to five years to sustain bloom.
Best uses (tags)
Provenance note
Bred by Larry Lauer and introduced in 1993. Won the American Dykes Medal in 2000.
References
- American Iris Society – (TB) ‘Stairway To Heaven’
- RHS – Iris ‘Immortality’ (general TB cultivation page reference)
- Penn State Extension – German Bearded Iris
- ASPCA – Iris toxicity for pets
