6lO IRIS. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



IRIS. 



showy blue flowers, beautifully veined with 

 white and violet. There are several 

 varieties, the white variety, also called I. 

 flexuosa, being pretty, and so is I. acuta, 

 but the double-flowered form is not. The 

 finest variety is I. orientalis, having larger 

 flowers of a deeper colour, with a different 

 veining, and the falls especially broad and 

 expanding. The Siberian Iris is very 



flowers hidden in grassy foliage. \Vhen 

 mixed with even the most delicate 

 flowers of the stove or Orchid-house, its 

 silky sky-blue fragrant flowers possess a 

 charm and softness equalled by scarcely 

 any other flower of the same colour. 

 Although the plant is hardy, its flowers 

 are so delicate that it should have protec- 

 tion from heavy rains unless the position 



Iris susiana. 



hardy and spare plants are easily estab- 

 lished in ditches or damp spots. 



I. sindjarensis. This is an interesting 

 species with the habit and general 

 character of I. caucasica, but has bluish 

 flowers and a distinct crest. It flowers 

 however at a time when no other Iris 

 except I. reticulata is in bloom, and 

 possesses a certain distinctive charm. 



I. stylosa (Algerian Iris).& beauti- 

 ful plant, flowering in mid -winter, its 



is well sheltered. It is perhaps best 

 known as I. stylosa. There are several 

 varieties in catalogues, speciosa being one 

 of the best, this having larger flowers of 

 a deep blue colour. Alba has white 

 flowers. They all require very light warm 

 soil on well-drained or raised borders in 

 sheltered gardens. Division. 



I. susiana (Mourning Iiis} One of 

 the most singular of all flowers, from i^ 

 to i\ ft. high ; the flowers very large and 



