IRIS 



IRIS 



821 



reiarions of Africa are the home of bulbous forms. In 

 southwestern Asia are fouud not only broad-leaved 

 forms, but this region is also the home of a rich variety 

 of dainty bulbous kinds and the curious Oncocyclus 

 species. 



As will be seen by their distribution, Irises are espe- 

 cially adapted by their hardiness to growth in our gar- 

 dens, though some forms, as the African, the Indian, 

 and the Oucocyclus species, need special treatment or 

 protection. In the main the Irises, from a cultural point 

 of view, are like others of nature's various families, 

 mostly very good — not to say commonplace — with a 

 few decidedly bad members. As there are nearly 170 

 species of Irises, with countless varieties, they are in- 

 teresting to the amateur collector and grower both for 

 their variety and their general beauty of flower. 



The life of Iris flowers varies from three to six days. 

 They are fragile, but if cut before the petals unroll may 

 be forwarded to considerable distance without injury. 

 This is the only way, in fact, by which the florist can 

 market them. The botanists divide the Irises into two 

 main groups, the bulbous kind and those with rhizomes, 

 these groups being each divided by the varying charac- 

 ters of the more or less raised line in the middle of the 

 fall of the flower. This, of course, gives no clue to cul- 

 tural necessities or to time of flowering, two important 

 details in a garden. 



Considering the bulbous Irises as a group, these are 

 all hardy without protection in the latitude of New York 

 city except I. ffistrio, I. alata, I. Junceay 1. PaliBstina, 

 I. Tiugitana, I. I'artani, 



In the order of their flowering, the reticulata group 

 is the earliest, /. Bakeriana and others starting into 

 flower as soon as released by frost, usually in February 

 or March. These are soon followed by the others of 

 this group, the largest-flowered member being /. his- 

 trioides. A peaty, sandy soil seems to be most accept- 

 able to this group, and no organic manure must be 

 given them. A location, if possible, where they may be 

 kept on the side of dryness in summer is desirable. The 

 culture of these, like that of all exotic plants in our gar- 

 dens, is, of course, tentative. If, on trial, they seem to 

 be happy and increase from offsets or buds, they may 

 remain in the borders indefinitely, but if during the 

 second season they show no gain, the bulbs should be 

 lifted and a trial made in another location. This group 

 seeds freely, and the seed pods will be found just under 

 the soil surface. 



Closely following this group are the so-called Juno 

 Irises, of which /. Persica is the most familiar, though 

 not the best example. These Irises have somewhat large 

 bulbs, with curious, persistent, fleshy roots, and seem 

 to thrive best in somewhat stiff soil, in sheltered loca- 

 tions, where they will be well baked during the summer. 

 They flower in March and April, the best forms being 

 /. Mosenbaeliiana, I. orchioides, I. Sindjarensls, and 

 /. Assi/riaea. They are desirable plants in the most 

 exclusive gardens. They seed freely, and also increase 

 by offsets. 



About the same time as above will flower the Iris 

 tuherosa {"The Widow"), which is neither bulbous nor 

 an Iris strictly, but has a weird beauty of its own, with 

 its green and black flowers. This should have a summer 

 baking. (See Hermodactnlnii .) 



Planted out in the early fall, the so-called Spanish 

 Irises make an early start and produce leaves which are 

 persistent during the winter and seldom injured here. 

 In May and June they broaden out, and are then sur- 

 mounted by very bright, distinct and charming flow- 

 ers. Very satisfactory flowers, these, and of the easiest 

 culture. They probably do best in spots inclining to 

 moisture. The bulbs make offsets rapidly, and should 

 often be divided and replanted. There are two forms 

 and numerous flowers of this Iris. The boldest form is 

 that known as the "Thunderbolt." 



The "English" Irises. /. xipliioides, follow the 

 "Spanish " in June and July. Their flowers are wider in 

 all their parts, and in a limited range of colors, white 

 and purple. "Mt. Blanc," pure white, is probably the 

 most satisfactory of the group. The foliage of the 

 English Iris does not spear till early spring, and the 

 varieties flourish in a rather drier position than the 

 "Spanish." 



The African bulbous Irises, /. jiincea, I. Vartanl, 

 I. alata, are subjects for a coolhouse, though the for- 

 mer is rarely hardy here. 



The rhizomatous Irises may be divided into a number 

 of sections, but in a cultural way may be broadly con- 

 sidered in two sections : those with thick, surface- 

 creeping rhizomes, as the hybrid German, and those 

 with more or less thin ones, as /. SiOtrica and /. 

 kevigata, which are subterranean. While the former 

 section comprises plants which grow in various condi- 

 tions, some with the roots submerged, yet in a general 

 way they have mostly surface-creeping rhizomes. These 

 are best transplanted soon after flowering, at which 

 time they commence a new growth. It is customary for 

 the nurserymen to supply these in the fall, which usually 

 leads to the loss of a season, as they often fail to become 

 established when planted late. The foliage of the Iris 

 indicates a sun-loving family, and Irises should be 

 planted in full exposure in rich, but not manured soil, 

 well drained. The rhizomes should be planted flat and 

 covered to half their diameter. If the rhizomes are in 

 a growing condition, no further care will usually be 

 necessary with the great majority of the species, but if 

 the rhizomes are dormant and partly dried up, as they 

 are frequently on receipt, care should be taken that they 

 have not much moisture till they start into growth, 

 otherwise they are likely to rot. Not every Iris will 

 grow in every garden, but the failure to establish these 

 plants is most often caused by too much exposure to 

 excitement of light, warmth and moisture when the plant 

 is not ready to convert its reserve into food. Valuable 

 species should have the protection of a frame in such 

 circumstances till it seems safe to plant them out. If 

 carefully treated and not excited, apparently hopeless 

 dried up rhizomes may often be saved. Most of these 

 Irises in common cultivation increase rapidly, and 

 should be divided and replant^^d every two or three 

 years; otherwise the rhizomes become matted and the 

 abode of grass, etc. Among them will be found some of 

 the showiest flowers of the family. 



Usually in early May we have flowers of /. CJiamceiris 

 and its variety /. Olbiensis, followed quickly by the 

 dwarfer /. pumila and its white form I.Attica. Forms 

 of /. hiiescens, Lam., quickly follow, after which /. 

 Germanica, I. Florentina and the host of "hybrid Ger- 

 man" varieties come rapidly forward and give a great 

 wealth of color. Every one is familiar with the great 

 bearded purple /. Germanica, perhaps the most gener- 

 ally cultivated Iris. There are larger-fld. forms of this: 

 /. Amas and /. niacrantha. I. Germanica alba seems 

 to be a variety of /. albicans. This and /. Florentina 

 are the usual white-fld. forms seen at this time. Of 

 bold, lighter purple kinds, /. pallida and its hybrids 

 are then preeminent. 



The German Irises of the garden are not varieties of 

 /. Germanica, but hybrids of various species, as /. pal- 

 lida, I. variegata, I. sambucina, I. squalens, I. lurida 

 X wild forms and /. neglecta^ I. amcena, I. plicata and 

 /. Swertii, which are known only in gardens. Naturally 

 these vary much in stature, time of flowering, size and 

 coloring of fls. They may be had in almost endless va- 

 riety, but a typical collection may be made with com- 

 paratively few plants. 



Among the best forms of the "hybrid German" Irises 

 are: /. aphijUa — Bridesmaid, Madame Chereau, Swer- 

 tii; /. nm'iF/ia — Compte de St. Clair, Fairy Queen, -ffe- 

 ticulataalbay'VxcXovme; /. nef/?ec/'a — Cordelia, Wagner; 

 I. pallida — Khe^iwe, Mad. Pacquitte, Queen of May, 

 Walmer ; /. squalens — Amols, Jacquiniana, Harrison 

 Weir, Mens. Cherion; /. variegata — Beacous^eld, Da- 

 rius, Hector, Honorable, Prince of Orange. 



June is flowering time for many Iris species, many of 

 which are uncommon, but of the more available forms 

 one could scarcely neglect the native /. hexagona, the 

 dark La Mance form of which is very distinct and 

 amongst the handsomest of the family. A white form 

 of this is not hardy here. I. fulva, another native plant 

 with copper-colored flowers, is also interesting. Irises 

 with distinct forms of this season are /. Monnieri and 

 /. orientalis {or /. ochrnfeuca), both of which have ob- 

 liquely growing rhizomes and enjoy moisture. 



For margins of water /. Pseudacorus , with yellow fls., 

 is invaluable, and our natives, /. versicolor and /. Caro- 



