Iris My Friend Jonathan

Iris My Friend Jonathan stands out in any garden with blooms that defy easy description. This reblooming tall bearded iris produces extraordinarily large flowers in complex shades of coppery red, fuchsia, and brick with hints of pink and butterscotch near the throat. The chocolate veining on heavily ruffled petals adds depth and drama, while bronze beards provide the finishing touch to flowers that can reach 5 to 6 inches across. The sweet fragrance is a bonus that draws you closer to admire the intricate details.

What makes My Friend Jonathan particularly valuable is its reblooming habit. The main show happens in late spring when multiple flower stalks emerge from each rhizome, each carrying several buds that open sequentially over several weeks. Then, when most other iris have long finished, this cultivar surprises you with a second round of blooms in late summer through early fall. This extended flowering period makes it exceptional value in the perennial border.

Garden Performance and Landscape Use

The sturdy flower stalks reach 30 to 36 inches tall and hold blooms well above the clumps of sword-shaped blue-green foliage. The foliage itself provides strong vertical interest even when plants aren't blooming, creating an architectural element in mixed borders or perennial beds. Each rhizome produces fans of leaves that spread 18 to 24 inches wide, creating substantial clumps within a few years.

My Friend Jonathan works beautifully planted in groups of three or more rhizomes for maximum impact in mid-border positions. The distinctive color makes it an excellent companion for plants with silvery foliage like artemisia or lavender, and it pairs wonderfully with chartreuse-leaved perennials that echo the butterscotch tones in the flowers. This iris also makes an outstanding cut flower, with blooms lasting up to a week in arrangements and buds continuing to open after cutting.

Low Maintenance Beauty

Once established, bearded iris like My Friend Jonathan are remarkably self-sufficient. The deep rhizome system makes plants extremely drought tolerant, and the tough foliage shrugs off deer and rabbit browsing. Unlike many perennials, this iris actually prefers lean soil conditions and requires no supplemental fertilizer in most garden situations. The biggest maintenance task is dividing clumps every three to five years to maintain vigorous flowering, which also gives you plenty of extra rhizomes to share with fellow gardeners or expand your planting.

This cultivar is hardy from zones 3 through 9, making it adaptable to a wide range of climates. The rhizomes survive harsh winters without protection in cold climates, while the heat and drought tolerance make it equally at home in warmer regions. Whether you're an experienced iris collector or trying bearded iris for the first time, My Friend Jonathan delivers exceptional performance with minimal fuss, producing flowers that stop visitors in their tracks season after season.