We had all "mixed beds" at the "old" house, and ,I'll admit it looked nice....something blooming all the time, with one flower complimenting another. BUT, it was a constant struggle keeping everything happy...one needs a drink, and it's neighbor was too wet...the one that needed a little extra fertilizer to bloom well always seemed to be next to one that wanted no extra food, etc., etc.
So we decided when we moved ,and 'started over", that the iris, for the most part, would be "alone" in beds by themselves. The exception is the borders of "spring bulbs", and a few, true lilies. The spring bulbs are done when the iris start, and don't impede air flow at the time the iris really need it, and the lilies come after the iris, are not "invasive" at all, and, again, don't impede the airflow in the beds.
All our perennial beds are "mixed', and even have a few annuals ,in some spots, for fill-in color....but no iris !
