242 



The Garden Magazine, June, 1922 



THE SIBIRICAS IN FULL SWAY 



' The Siberian Irises, natives of Europe 

 as well as Siberia by the way, are 

 a joy no garden can afford to miss " 



Blanc, is my favorite; the other varieties I have tried look too 

 splotchy. The foliage of the English Iris, though somewhat 

 better than the Spanish, also has a decidedly oniony look. 

 Another quality they have in common is their lack of increase, 

 and their tendency to die out altogether after a few years. Iris 

 monspur has similar, larger flowers, grows more strongly, and 

 blooms about the same time. 



The stately I. ochroleuca (spuria) grows some five feet high, 

 has good foliage, and beautiful ivory-white flowers with an 

 orange blotch at the base of the falls. It likes a moist but not 

 wet situation as does the I. longipetala superba (spuria), with 

 her exquisite porcelain blue flowers, the falls of which are ex- 

 ceptionally long and gold-touched at the base. These two 

 Irises adapt themselves most beautifully to waterside planting, 

 but, as with the Siberians, the crowns should be set above the 

 water-line. 



I. foetidissima or Gladwyn's Iris has to its credit purple, 

 beardless flowers, bright scarlet seed-pods — most attractive in 

 winter — and evergreen foliage; a by no means scant list of rec- 

 ommendations. For situation it requires a dry, sunny place; 

 and it may well be planted near the house, since it is attractive 

 in winter as well as summer. 



The Japanese Iris (I. Kaempferi) is a whole subject in itself. 

 If only the names of varieties could be definitely settled, and all 

 growers compelled to use them! Under present conditions, it is 

 best to buy a collection from some reliable grower, being sure 

 that the plants are carefully labeled ; or, better still, go to the gar- 

 dens of some nursery and take your own notes of colors and com- 

 binations. My favorite is a large flowered, three petaled white 

 one, delicately suffused with sky blue at the base of the petals. 

 In my first garden, I had a beautiful group of this cloud-and-sky 

 Iris. There is, too, a most lovely pure white variety, with just 

 a touch of gold at the base of the petals; also one with mauve 

 pencilings; in fact, very few of the Japanese Irises are any- 

 thing but lovely. Iris tectorum, the Japanese Roof Iris, is 

 delicate, hard to please, and does not seem to like us very well, 

 but "if you don't at first succeed, try, try, try again" to coax 

 her to yield her heavenly blue flowers ! As a family they like 

 considerable moisture at budding and flowering time, and will 

 repay soakings with larger and finer textured flowers. In some 



gardens in Japan, a small stream is changed in its course to 

 flood the Iris fields at budding and flowering time. If, however, 

 they are allowed to stand in water through the winter, the re- 

 sult is invariably fatal. The roots increase in an open circle, 

 and when this circle is completely filled, they may be separated, 

 to give additional plants; if not, leave them undisturbed. The 

 last of August, or early September, is the best time for plant- 

 ing or separating, and if it cannot be attended to at this time, 

 should be left until spring, as the winter heaving of newly set 

 plants is often disastrous. It is possible to grow the Japanese 

 Irises without much moisture, if the ground be kept thoroughly 

 cultivated and never allowed to bake into a solid crust. 



Where and How They Like to Grow 



ALL the Bearded Irises (this includes the pumila, the in- 

 termediate, the germanica, etc.) like a sunny, well-drained 

 situation. Prepare the ground by digging at least 18 inches — 

 and as much deeper as you are willing — add some air-slaked 

 lime and either bonemeal or very well-rotted manure; never 

 fresh manure, which is death-dealing to the rhizomes. The 

 Pogoniris like some moisture during the growing and flowering 

 season, but after that the plants rest and ripen, by sun baking, 

 for the following year's bloom. Water, other than what the 

 heavens send, should be withheld during this time, unless there 

 happens to be an unusually prolonged drought. Finely ground 

 bonemeal stirred about the plants in the early spring means 

 flowers of increased size. It is pleasant to feel that one's plants 

 are properly cared for; but for those who can give little time, 

 it is reassuring to remember that most of the Bearded Group 

 will live through an astonishing amount of neglect, practically 

 naturalizing themselves. The only thing really fatal to them 

 is planting in a wet place. 



The Apogon or Beardless Irises, to which belong the Siberian, 

 orientalis, versicolor, pseudacorus, and Japanese, do not like 

 lime in the preparation of the bed ; well-rotted cow manure, or 

 bonemeal with the addition of some leafmold are the best foods 

 for this tribe. The Apogons require moisture, and unless 

 planted near a stream or pond, need generous watering, espe- 

 cially at budding time; and the ground should be kept culti- 

 vated. As said before, unless the planting can be done during 



