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 December
2001
 Iris
unguicularis
 November
2001
Hymenoxis
herbacea
October
2001
Pellaea
atropurpurea
September
2001
Zauschneria
garrettii
August
2001
Platycodon
grandiflorum
'Sentimental
Blue'
July
2001
Callirhoe
involucrata
June
2001
Helianthemum
nummularium
hybrids
May
2001
Viola
pedata 'Bicolor'
April
2001
Anemonella
thalictroides
March
2001
Fritillaria
pudica
February
2001
Castilleja
rupicola
January
2001
Lupinus
lepidus var. lobbii
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Plant
of the Month
December
2001
Iris
unguicularis
by Mike E. Chelednik
Iris
unguicularis is a member of the Iridaceae, the iris
family of plants, in the Unguiculares Section. It is closely
kin to Iris lazica and
I. cretensis, considered by
some to be separate species. It is commonly called the
winter iris or the Algerian iris. It was formerly classified
as Iris stylosa.
Iris
unguicularis is native to the lands of the Eastern
Mediterranean, with scattered populations from Algeria up
through Turkey and the Greek Peloponnese. It is a
rhizomatous species. There are two basic morphological
representations of the species. The mostly Algerian race,
and the one most often represented in cultivation, is a
plant with fairly wide (to about 0.5"/1 cm) foliage to 12 to
16" (30-40 cm) long. The other variant, of Greek and Cretan
origin, has narrow, wiry foliage to only about 4 to 5"
(10-13 cm) tall. Botanists have at times tried to relegate
one or the other form to subspecific status or even a
different species; the smaller form is sometimes offered
under the horticultural sobriquet,
Iris cretensis.
The blooms
of Iris unguicularis are borne on elongated floral tubes,
rather than true stems, two to six inches long. The petals
have the typical iris arrangement, with three upright
"standards" and three arching "falls." The specific epithet
means, "narrow clawed" and refers to the shape of the base
of the petals. The flowers are typically a medium
lavender-blue, with yellow to orange markings on the falls;
but variation does occur. There are white, deep violet, and
even pink forms in existence, but these are nearly as scarce
as the proverbial hen's teeth. Most plants have a sweet,
honey-like fragrance; but this too is variable and the
fragrance is most obvious when the flowers are brought into
a warm room.
Propagation
is of course possible, but not always easy. Seed, if
procurable, takes up to a year to germinate, with seedlings
blooming in their third or fourth year. Division is fairly
simple, provided you remember one thing: Divide only in
early fall. Dividing in August, just as the plants are
coming into growth, is best. I've found that small divisions
are fine so long as each piece has an adequate amount of
root.
It can take
dips in temperatures down to the subzero F (-18 C) level,
but not extended cold; it is fully hardy in USDA Zone 7 of
the Piedmont South, but would be "iffy" north of the D.C.
metro area. In any case it needs periods of nonfreezing
weather in which to bloom outdoors.
There are
numerous selected clones of Iris
unguicularis, including a pink form known as
"Starkers Pink". Three forms
are described below: The name
"Alba"‚ is a catchall for
any number of white forms. These generally have a reputation
for being weak-growing and short-lived, but I have a form
that I picked up at Washfield Nursery (U.K.) that seems to
be a fairly strong grower. The flowers are a pure white with
yellowish-green markings on the falls, and are borne on
usually long tubes, up to 12" (30 cm).
The
beautiful "Alba"‚ form
shown in the photograph was brought back by Bobby Ward from
Jim and Jenny Archibald's nursery in Wales in the summer of
2000. It too is a good, strong form, which bloomed for me in
the fall of 2000 and for Bobby in November 2001.
Walter
Butt"‚ is a large older cultivar with lovely
silvery-lavender flowers. The foliage seems more upright and
substantial than is typical, and the plants also tend to
come into bloom earlier than most clones. It is also one of
the most fragrant.
Marondera"‚
is a rather new selection that originated in a garden in
Zimbabwe. This large-growing selection is by far the most
vigorous of all the forms I grow. Clumps double in size each
year and bloom profusely from late October through early
April. The large flowers are a fairly typical color (medium
lavender blue), but have excellent form with strong
standards. The foliage of this cultivar is also reasonably
attractive at all times - definitely an asset.
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