Our collection of iris and daylilies
The collection was created over 60 years ago by Doreen Bovet.
Like many Americans, Doreen loved iris. In autumn 1950, she ordered five new varieties from Schreiner, a renowned Swiss grower based in the United States, and had them planted in the Château’s vegetable garden. When the gardens were opened to the public in 1955, visitors were amazed to see so many different iris together. As the years have passed, their number has grown. Today, over four hundred varieties of iris and 13,500 daylilies extend for more than two hectares.
The iris, more robust and with more flowers, some blooming twice a year
The flowers we admire today are very different to the ones the first visitors saw. Today’s iris are more robust and produce more blooms. The flowers are carried on shorter stems (85cm on average, compared with 100cm), are larger and last longer. Their shape has changed too, with rounded rather than pointed petals and wide sepals that extend almost horizontally instead of hanging. Colours have also evolved, with a preference today for warm shades of honey, purple, rusty brown and mahogany, or subtle blends of pink, peach and cream. Breeders are still trying to achieve the perfect red.
NEW : Recent additions include reblooming iris which, in the right weather conditions, will flower a second time in autumn. Their reference mentions an R, dont’ miss them when you place you order so that you have admire your irises twice per year, once in the Spring and once in the fall.
Each year new varieties are introduced, thanks to which the collection remains one of the most interesting and up-to-date in Europe. During the summer months, visitors can admire the daylilies; 200 different varieties feature in the catalogue.
The daylily, worth getting to know
Daylilies are part of the lily family. Not all European gardeners are familiar with this plant, yet it has so much to offer. Its many-coloured flowers open in the first days of June and continue to blossom in abundance until mid-summer. Daylilies feature prominently in the gardens at Vullierens, where they take over from the more fleeting iris to provide a wonderful carpet of colour throughout the sunny months.
Recreate the elegance of Vullierens at home
The flowers are propagated by dividing the rhizome, meaning you can continue to enjoy part of these stunning gardens at home. Simply note down the reference of the flowers that catch your eye as you walk around, and place your order.
The gardens were created by the present owner’s mother. It was her wish that the proceeds from these sales go towards maintaining the Château and enhancing this piece of local heritage – a tradition that is carried on today.
April


Intermediate Iris
40 varieties
40 to 70 cm
9 to 13 cm
August to October
End of April
Although these irises flower just after the Dwarf Irises, their longest stem gives them height.
May

Border Iris
20 varieties
30 cm
12 to 14 cm
August to October
Beginning of May
These irises share many characteristics with garden irises, although they are smaller.
June

Tall bearded Iris
270 varieties
70 to 90 cm
+ 14 cm
August to October
Mid-May to mid-June
This iris is the most famous and it is also the one that produces the highest stems (minimum 70 cm). Its flowers are considerably larger than those of other varieties and flower after most of the latter.

Siberian Iris
30 varieties
80 cm
6 to 8 cm
August to October
Mid-May to mid-June
They are cultivated in normal soil as well as in very wet ground, on a riverbank for example. Their narrow leaves form tufts.
July-Aug

Daylilies
130 varieties
30 to 100 cm
8 to 15 cm
August to October
End of June to August
It is a perennial plant. They are also called daylilies because their flowers are ephemeral, but the buds are constantly renewed throughout the summer. It is a perfect perennial because it is very colourful, can withstand drought and requires little maintenance.
Sept-Oct

Reblooming Iris
60 variétés
May to August
After a first spring flowering, other flowers appear at the end of the summer. The second flowering is not regular and depends on many factors: sunshine, summer watering, altitude.