Iris as Srping Bulbs
From Ken Walker's Garden

Some iris have bulbs rather than rhizomes. These are spring flowers that go dormant in the summer. Their ancestors are native mostly to the Mediteranean region and the Middle East. There are three categories of these iris: those related to the Dutch iris that florists use, the dwarf bulbous iris, and the Junos. Junos are different from most spring bulbs in that they retain storage roots through the summer in addition to bulbs.

Iris xiphium	Iris xiphium Iris xiphium is known as the Spanish iris. There are many garden varieties in shades of purple, white and yellow. Photographed 24 April 1999
Iris xiphium	Iris xiphium Photographed 23 April 1999
Iris xiphium	Iris xiphium Photographed 17 April 1999
Iris xiphium	Iris xiphium Photographed 17 April 1999
Dutch Iris	Dutch iris are hybrids of I. xiphium, I. tingitana, and perhaps one or two other species. They are called Dutch iris because they were produced in Holand, even though all of their ancestors are native to the Mediteranean. They come in colors similar to those of the Spanish iris and are often forced commercially and used for cut flowers. Photographed 13 March 2000
Dutch Iris	Dutch Iris Photographed 1 April 2000
Dutch Iris	Dutch Iris Photographed 21 April 1999
Dutch Iris	Dutch Iris This Dutch Iris is slightly different from the others. It readily forms large clumps for me and its flowers are down amoung the top of the leaves. Photographed 26 March 2000
Iris recticulata	Iris recticulata This is a small bulbous iris that blooms very early in the spring. There are many cultivated varieties in shades of blue and purple. Photographed 14 February 2000
Iris recticulata	Iris recticulata. Photographed 19 February 2000
Iris recticulata	Iris recticulata. Photographed 20 February 2000
Iris danfordiae	Iris danfordiae This is a relative of Iris recticulata. Photographed 20 February 2005
Katherine Hodgkin
Iris bucharica	Iris bucharica This is the most widely grown of the Juno iris. It is more tolerant of summer moisture than many of its relatives. Even so, it should be grown in a sunny, well drained location. Photographed 23 March 1999
Iris magnifica 'Agalik'	Iris magnifica ‘Agalik’ This is one of the larger Juno iris. It is also relatively easy to grow. This iris has thick dalia-like roots under its bulb. Photographed 17 March 2001
Iris vicaria ‘Hodji-Obi-Gam’	Iris vicaria ‘Hodji-Obi-Gam' This is another Juno iris. Photgraphed 3 April 1999

Copyright 1999-2003 Kenneth Walker
home