16 
The Dean Iris Gardens , Moneta , California 
SPURIA GROUP 
The flowers of this group resemble in form 
the Spanish Irises, but the plants themselves 
are much more ornamental with their tall, 
dark green, rush-like foliage. They consist 
of such varieties as: 
Aurea. Handsome yellow; native of Himal¬ 
ayan Mountains. 3 feet. 
Monaurea. Large yellow flowers, with deep 
orange lip. 5 feet. 
Monneiri. Handsome yellow species. 3 feet. 
Monspur. Beautiful violet-blue. 4 feet. 
Orientalis Gigantea (Syn. Ochroleuca). 
Called the Gold-Banded Iris. White, with 
orange-yellow blotch on falls. 4 feet. 
Orientalis Sulphurea. Sulphur yellow form of 
above. 
Orientalis Snowflake. White with gold blotch 
on falls. Free bloomer. 
Spuria. Bright lilac-blue. 3 feet. 
Spuria Notha. Rich violet; F. blue, spotted 
yellow. 3 feet. 
LAEVIGATA GROUP 
This group comprises Laevigata and 
Kaempferi, and the hybrids known as Jap¬ 
anese Irises, which are numerous and varied. 
The reason so many fail in the culture of 
these in Southern California is probably due 
to not giving sufficient moisture and proper 
nourishment. They require both to attain 
the greatest perfection. 
PSEUDO-ACORUS and VERSI¬ 
COLOR 
The Pseudo-Acorus of Europe, and Versi¬ 
color of the United States, are water loving 
species, yet do well given the same treat¬ 
ment as given I. Sibirica and some others in 
this section. 
Pseudo-Acorus. A bright yellow. 3 feet. 
Versicolor. Varies in color from mauve, vio¬ 
let, purple to claret-red. 2 feet. 
HEXAGONA GROUP 
These are American species. Hexagona, 
Foliosa and Fulva. The colors in Hexagona 
and Foliosa vary, but that most common is 
lilac blue. Foliosa is the dwarfer form, the 
flowers nestling down among the leaves. In 
Fulva we have an unusual color in an Iris- 
an intermediate shade between a scarlet and 
brown. A handsome Iris and one that does 
well with us. 20 inches. 
LONGIPETALA GROUP 
These are natives of the Pacific Coast and 
neighboring states. They are distinct from 
those in the California group. 
Longipetala. Violet-blue; falls white with 
lilac veining. 2 feet. 
Missouriensis. Lilac with yellow spot. 2 feet. 
Montana. Lilac wits yellow in falls. 
There are a few other groups in this sec¬ 
tion, but the ones described comprise those 
most common in cultivation. 
MONSPUR (TALL BEARDLESS) 
FOETIDISSIMA 
[ris Foetidissima. The scarlet-seeded Iris is 
placed in a group by itself. If the flowers 
were more attractive it would be very de¬ 
sirable owing to the fine evergreen foli¬ 
age. The open capsules displaying the 
scarlet seeds throughout the winter make 
it attractive in some climates, but in our 
dry atmosphere the capsules shrivel up and 
the seeds soon fall after ripening. 
