An unapologetic plant geek shares advice and opinions on gardening, the contrived and the natural landscape, as well as occasional topics from the other side of the gate.

January 26, 2012

Out of Africa with Iris unguicularis

Several years ago I made a conscious effort to add more perennials that would bloom at times of the year when few other plants were blooming. I added gallardia, cestrum and cuphea to cover the hot gap from late June until fall. For winter I already had color from camellias, hellebores and my edgeworthia, but I wanted more, especially since winter is my least favorite season. Anything I can get to bloom then delights me.

Iris unguicularis (commonly known as Algerian iris) is native to North Africa, Greece and parts of the Middle East. I planted mine two falls ago, and last winter I think it bloomed once or twice. This year it  first opened in November, had a couple of blossoms in December and has now bloomed twice in January. I have read that it is a opportunistic bloomer waiting for warmer spells of weather during the winter months and should continue until March. The buds are apparently freeze-proof, but the open flowers are not. They are typically shades of blue, but white and pink cultivars exist as well. The strap-like evergreen foliage reaches 12-15" tall, and the flowers tend to open a little below that. They are sweetly fragrant, but aging knees make you think twice about getting down to enjoy the aroma. This iris prefers full to part sun, lean soil with smart drainage, likes dry summer weather and is hardy from in zones 7-9. These conditions are not a problem for me.

Iris unguicularis

22 comments:

  1. Sounds like a nice addition to the garden. Color this time of year would be nice.

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  2. Good gracious, it's beautiful. And it's January. Now I want it too. I've been enjoying your blog for a while now. You always have gorgeous photos and it's nice to read about places close to home (I'm in Hampton).

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  3. Lovely blue tone in that shot.

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  4. Les,

    I saw these in bloom last week at Duke Gardens, planted in the conditions you described. Yours is darker blue than theirs, I like yours better.

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  5. Is this the same thing as Moraea (Dietes) iridioides? Probably not. I purchased this last fall and it was labeled African Iris. It hasn't bloomed yet though and I don't mine is hardy:( It sure is nice to have iris blooms in the winter so I'll be looking for this one. A neat name too! I am amazed at how many types of irises there are.

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  6. It is indeed a season worthy plant. Mine bloomed for the first time this year after I had first seen it two years ago at Plant Delights in early March. Mine haven't look like they want to bloom again this year but after your comment I will keep a close eye on them...

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  7. I will need another couple zone map changes before I can grow this beauty but I will enjoy it in your garden. What a luscious blue.

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  8. Looks like this would grow in Brooklyn (zone 7b). Does it offer any longer lasting interest after blooming?

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  9. Thank you so much for introducing me to this plant! I am putting in a winter garden, and I really need to get some of these! How gorgeous!

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  10. Like Layanee, still a stretch for me. But we are having a Zone 7 winter this year and I've got a chance to see my first flowers ever in January this weekend, with a little luck.

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  11. Very nice - reminds me of crested iris. Do you have very early bulbs, like snowdrops (galanthus)?

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  12. Lovely Les. I might add some to mine. Oh, wait I did. Mine have yet to bloom. Only got foliage last year. I wonder why?~~Dee

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  13. Great post Les. A good plant for winter! Like your focus on plants in your blogs....

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  14. I too love blue in the garden. Nice choice.

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  15. Les, the plantsman says cork tree and hophornbeam, Ostrya....

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  16. Wow, love the color of this iris Les. And it blooms in winter! What more could you ask for in a plant? I guess if the blooms didn't freeze it would be almost perfect.

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  17. Wonderful intense and cheerful color, incredible to know that this flower grows in the very hot parts of Northern Africa, must be a very strong and resisting flower! Very nice!

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  18. Thanks everyone for taking the time to comment. Last week got away from me so I did not get a chance to say thank you to each response, but that does not mean I don't appreciate them.

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  19. Love them!

    Arthur in the Garden!

    http://arthur-in-the-garden.com/

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