92 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



CHAPTER XV 

 IRISES THAT SELDOM FLOWER 



IT may appear somewhat paradoxical to mention Irises 

 that seldom flower, but the following list may prove a 

 warning to some, and at the same time be of interest to 

 those who delight in the overcoming of difficulties and 

 in the cultivation of fastidious plants. 



One of the most puzzling of these Irises is the /. 

 humilis, which is a relative of 7. spuria and /. graminea, 

 but which is sometimes confused with /. ruthenica. In 

 habit it is not unlike a small /. graminea, and the stiff, rigid 

 leaves seem always to be in the best of health, but year 

 after year the plant disappoints our hopes and remains 

 flowerless, and this even in the hottest and driest of 

 positions. 



This year, for some unknown reason, one small plant 

 of this Iris sent up two flowering shoots, each producing 

 two flowers. As, however, the latter are practically iden- 

 tical with those of a dull-coloured example of 7. graminea, 

 and as they are produced so low down as actually to touch 

 the ground, the only interest that the plant offers is the 

 discovery of the exact requirements. 



Another enigma is presented by the 7. ruthenica which 

 has just been mentioned. Some forms are very floriferous 

 and are delightful indeed, but on others flowers are very 

 rare, and on others, again, they are never seen at all. Aspect 

 and position seem to have no effect, and the only way to 



