Every spring, a small patch of greenery in the commune of Larnas is decked out in a thousand colours when the iris blooms. It’s a natural work of art, the fruit of the passionate labour of Bernard Laporte, a world authority in the field.

Larnas’ Iris

Bernard Laporte moved to Larnas in 1959, but it was in the 1990s that he settled in the Nègue valley and bought his first irises to put in his garden. One thing led to another and he developed a passion for the flower. Today, his collection includes more than 2,500 varieties. Bernard devotes all his time to developing new varieties and cross-breeding them to improve the shapes and colours of the flowers. All flower colours are possible, except red. The art of cuttings and science have not yet succeeded in his creation.

 

In 2009, Bernard obtained a new variety of iris, which he named Iris Larnas. It has a single orange colour and flowers mid-season. It is considered to be a large iris, measuring over 70cm.

Iris Larnas Ardèche © Marina Geray

Practical info

The annual event generally takes place in May, although the dates can vary. The peak flowering period is generally between 8 and 15 May.

Between the end of April and the end of May, tours are available on weekdays from 2pm, and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 9am.

You can call Bernard on 04 75 04 39 32 or 04 75 04 92 33 to find out how the flowering is progressing.

ℹ️ Bernard allows everyone to come and enjoy the spectacle offered by the fruits of his labour. Please take care to respect the site. Don’t leave anything behind, don’t trample and don’t pick the irises.