"Anyone can grow iris," who has had a lifelong attraction to this plant and is a master judge for the American Iris Society. It's easy to understand why people have such passion for iris. it's a very diverse group of plants, with bearded iris being one of three main categories. This kind of iris gets its name from a patch of soft bristles on the lower petals of the flowers. In addition to their long bloom time, bearded iris come in an incredible variety of colors and patterns.