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EnglishWhat is BC Iris Society?
Updated
BC Iris Society is a volunteer group of gardeners in British Columbia who share knowledge about iris varieties and how to use them in landscapes. Its website is useful if you want to browse iris photos, read the society's newsletters, or find where to buy iris in BC. It is an informational and community site rather than a commercial shop, though it does include a checkout page.
Who runs it and what it does
The society describes itself as "a group of enthusiastic gardeners dedicated to enlightening fellow gardeners about the different types of irises for enhancing all landscapes." That purpose shows up in two main ways on the site:
- Iris galleries — photo collections of named cultivars, often with height and bloom-time details.
- Newsletters — the Rainbow Goddess newsletter, now published as a blog.
What you can find on the site
Iris galleries
The galleries list iris cultivars with practical growing details. Examples from the homepage:
| Cultivar | Type | Height | Bloom time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cimarron Rose | SDB | 14" (46 cm) | Midseason to late, rebloom |
| Dusky Challenger | TB | 39" (99 cm) | Midseason to late |
| But Darling | TB | 46" (117 cm) | Late midseason |
| Feel the Thunder | TB | 43" (109 cm) | Midseason |
| Table For Two | TB | 36" (91 cm) | Very early |
| Galaxina | AB | 24" (61 cm) | Midseason to late |
| Blue Neon | SDB | 12" (30 cm) | Midseason |
The abbreviations (TB, SDB, AB, SIB, PCN, SP, JI, SPX) refer to iris classes such as Tall Bearded, Standard Dwarf Bearded, Arilbred, Siberian, Pacific Coast Native, Species, and Japanese. If you are choosing iris for a specific spot, height and bloom time are the two details worth checking first.
Newsletters
Recent Rainbow Goddess issues cover:
- "From Print to Blog: Our New Format + Reticulata Iris Feature"
- "From Ukraine to BC: Iris Stories, Tributes, and Garden Highlights"
- "Summer Iris Update & a Tribute to Bill Dumont"
An archive of older issues is also available.
Where to buy iris in British Columbia
The site points to growers such as Hillside Irises in Cawston, BC, which ships bearded iris across Canada and offers online ordering. This is the most directly actionable page if you want to buy plants rather than just read about them.
Who this site is for
- BC gardeners looking for iris varieties suited to local conditions.
- Iris hobbyists who want cultivar photos and bloom-time references.
- Anyone sourcing iris in Canada who needs a starting list of growers.
If you are outside British Columbia or Canada, the galleries and newsletters are still readable, but the buying guidance is Canada-focused.