Iris vartanii

[Oron Peri]

On my way home today I have made a stop to take photos of I. Vartanii.

It is the first Iris to flower here.

This early bloomer is the most southern species of the Reticulata group, growing in low altitudes.
I find it to be an excellent plant to grow in a pot.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Wow !  Very nice pix Oron, I've not often seen this one !
Thanks for stopping and showing !

[David Nicholson]

Lovely Oron, bet it wouldn't look so happy here. Far too cold and wet.

[Oron Peri]

Lovely Oron, bet it wouldn't look so happy here. Far too cold and wet.

David,

I guess you are right, this one needs a dry long summer rest and a mild winter.

Iris histrio, its cousin from high altitudes should do fine since its hardy, and very similar in apearence.

[Maggi Young]

With such flowers to be seen en route, Oron, I'm surprised you ever get to work, or home again

[Paul T]

Oron,

Wow.  Not heard of that species before.  Sounds like it would grow well here too!  Must look out for it if ever available.  Thanks for showing us new things. 

[Gerry Webster]

I dimly remember  Iris vartanii being  available in the UK some 25 years ago.   I considered buying it then but all the literature  indicated that it did not thrive here, even under glass, so I saved my money. I think  the white form was the one more widely available & I wonder whether they were dug  up in the wild? I haven't seen it offered since then.

[Rafa]

A real beauty 

Thank you Oron

[Jim McKenney]

I dimly remember  Iris vartanii being  available in the UK some 25 years ago.   I considered buying it then but all the literature  indicated that it did not thrive here, even under glass, so I saved my money. I think  the white form was the one more widely available & I wonder whether they were dug  up in the wild? I haven't seen it offered since then.

Yes, Gerry, the de Jager bulb company used to offer Iris vartanii 'Alba' yearly decades ago.

I had it from them several times: the pale gray-white flowers were beautiful, but the plant seemed very weak.

Whenever I see the modern reticulate hybrid 'Natascha' I'm reminded of it, although 'Natascha' has a different form.

Thanks, Oron, for raising the hope that I might see Iris vartanii again one of these days!

[tonyg]

A beautiful Iris.  From your comments on its low altitude location I assume it will be frost tender?

[Andrew]

Lovely Oron, bet it wouldn't look so happy here. Far too cold and wet.

David,

I guess you are right, this one needs a dry long summer rest and a mild winter.

Iris histrio, its cousin from high altitudes should do fine since its hardy, and very similar in appearance.

My Iris histrio aintabensis died out but my Iris vartanii is up again this year (I don't think it is going to flower) !!

[Otto Fauser]

Oron,
 I can,t do better than echo Maggi,s comment :what a pleasure to pass Iris vartanii in bloom on your way to work -you should be in a happy mood all day. It is such a beautyful
clear ,pale blue form, the one I used to grow some 40 years ago was a greyish-blue .My
 Iris histrio , col. near Sofar, Lebanon , flowers here in the last weeks of autumn , so I think I. vartanii is even a few weeks earlier .
 Andrew I find I.histrio and its var.aintabensis much easier to grow in the open than
vartanii.
  Paul , I.vartanii alba used to be available commercially in Australia in the sixties, it was a weak grower and has died out , and I also no longer have the grey-blue one , perhaps one day again ?someone may import them again, or seed.
     Otto.

[Gerry Webster]

  Paul , I.vartanii alba used to be available commercially in Australia in the sixties, it was a weak grower and has died out , and I also no longer have the grey-blue one , perhaps one day again ?someone may import them again, or seed.
     Otto.

Otto - Not from the wild I hope. I learn from the internet that I. vartanii & other iris species are protected in Israel & collection of plants or seed is illegal.

[Oron Peri]

With such flowers to be seen en route, Oron, I'm surprised you ever get to work, or home again

Maggi you are right... this is the reason why I choose to be  self employed, other wise i would probably have to find new jobs every two weeks.

I cant complain about living in Israel for the reasone that we have about 240 bulbous taxa growing here,
for other causes... its another story, but this is not the place to explain.

[Oron Peri]

Otto,

Iris vartanii is A very rare species that can be found only in a few localities, it blooms a few weeks after the first rains: Mid November to Mid December.

Iris Histrio, has a longer period of bloom, most colonies flower in January to February, while the colonies on Mt. Hermon bloom a few days after snow melts which is around mid March. It is also a rare species.
Luckily this species grows mainly in areas declared as natural reserves, and so its future looks brighter.

I'm adding photos of I. histrio in its natural habitat.