IRIS 



(From the Greek iris, a rainbow) 

 Iridacea 



75. Iris germanica, vars. 

 English Names : German iris, Fleur-de-lis, European blue flag, Flower-de-luce. 



HORTICULTURAL VARIETIES, TYPE FROM EUROPE EARLY MAY TO EARLY JUNE 



IARGE, showy, and sometimes fragrant flowers four to five inches 

 -i wide by as much in height, with three large, erect, incurving petals 

 called standards, and three large, golden-bearded, drooping ones called 

 falls, in self colors and 

 combinations of white, 

 yellow, brown, bronze, 

 purple-blue, and lavender 

 almost to rose, borne four 

 or more close together 

 along the tips of stout 

 erect stalks two to three 

 feet high. Leaves one, 

 to one and one half feet 

 long, stiff, swordlike, and 

 growing from the ground 

 in flat sheaves, blue gray- 

 green in color; fairly 

 durable throughout the 

 summer though usually 

 turning brown at the tips 

 and becoming unsightly. 



A remarkably decora- 

 tive plant, fine for plant- 

 ing in masses or singly 

 against shrubbery or in 

 the herbaceous border. 

 Excellent for cutting. 

 The foliage after bloom 

 presents a difficult prob- 

 lem, as its withered ap- 

 pearance often mars an otherwise trim border. It is difficult to conceal 

 with other plants, as Irises require plenty of room and will not stand 

 crowding. Probably the best thing to do is to plant in not very large 



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