If you haven’t yet introduced 'George' to your garden – now’s the time! In early spring, you just can’t miss the exquisite detail of this beautiful Iris reticulata. Iris histrioides 'George' is a truly lovely little variety, welcoming spring with its luxurious blooms and heavenly fragrance each year. Plant the bulbs in groups in containers or borders to create delightful pockets of colour which will emerge from February onwards.

Iris reticulata are among the earliest bulbs to flower in the spring, with a bloom very similar to that of summer-flowering iris varieties, but on an intricate, miniature scale. As with any Iris reticulata, dwarf Iris 'George' looks great in an alpine setting, among rockeries, in gravel gardens or in old-fashioned stone containers. It’s fully hardy and easy to grow – simply plant the bulbs in the autumn and look forward to their welcome appearance a few months later.

As species types, they have a good chance of settling in to your garden, but dwarf iris do need well drained soil and relatively dry conditions in dormancy. Even if they were only to last a year, you’d consider planting them to have been more than worthwhile. Mass them for a splendid effect or combine them with snowdrops for a symphony in purple and white.