Iris x hollandica is a hybrid of the Spanish iris group, developed by Dutch breeders into the sleek, long-stemmed form recognized worldwide from florists' buckets and market stalls. It grows from a bulb rather than a rhizome, planted four to six inches deep and about four to six inches apart in well-drained, light soil in a sunny position — six to eight bulbs per square foot produces the densely planted look that shows them at their best. The leaves are narrower and shorter than those of most irises, fifteen to twenty-four inches long, and the flowers are six-parted with three outer falls and three inner upright standards, sometimes showing a yellow spot or stripe on the falls. The blooms arrive in April and May, topping bare stems with one to several flowers per stem, and they hold well as cut flowers.

In cooler climates where the bulbs may not reliably persist through winter, they are often treated as annuals with fresh bulbs planted each fall for spring color. Where they do perennialize, bulbs divide into bulblets after the blooms fade; separating and replanting these offsets builds the display over several years, though bulblets take some seasons to reach flowering size. Consistent moisture during the growing season is important, and light afternoon shade is tolerated. Good garden hygiene — clearing old leaves and debris from the bed — reduces the risk of the fungal, bacterial, and iris borer problems that affect the broader genus.