Scorpiris Iris (Juno's) 2007

[tonyg]

Thanks Lesley - I'll take a close look at I orchioides

[hadacekf]

This is my Iris bucharica!

[Maggi Young]

Beautiful, Franz and a perfect match for Tony's Iris, even to the photograph!

[ChrisB]

I've just bought my first Juno - I. bucharica, looks a lot like the photos in this thread, so name must be correct.  The pot looks as if it is spreading with some new shoots here and there, non flowering of course.  If I do put it in the garden is it likely to clump up or should I remove bulbs every year for storage, not sure from posts so far.  Any help with cultivation much appreciated.

[Lesley Cox]

In a post above, I should have said style arms of course, not standards which in junos, are small, horizontal or even totally downward growing, as in the pics above. The style arms are much larger and take the place of standards in other species.

Chis, junos generally, and certainly I. bucharica DO clump up well and increase freely by daughter or side bulbs. This means that they can make a super clump in the open garden. I grow all mine outside (though some in pots outside) because I have no place to grow them under cover. I. bucharica should be happy in the open garden but having said that, my climate is rather different from yours and people nearer your home could give you better advice. One thing they all like is a warm, dry summer while they are dormant. If you grow them in pots, don't repot until they have had that dry rest period. Tony Hall at Kew, doesn't repot until Sept/Oct. I like to repot or grow earlier in the season, say late summer Jan/Feb here, as since they are outside, any rain or dampness in the air starts the new root growth and I like to have them sorted out before that happens.

[ChrisB]

Thanks Lesley.  I think I will put it in the garden, my soil is like sand, slightly acid and very, very free draining, so any heat we do get in the summer should reach the bulbs easily.  I'll make sure its in a place where I can enjoy it in spring though, such a lovely plant, well worth the £4 I paid for it.

[SueG]

Hi Chris
I've got I bucharica growing and flowering in the garden (I think I should point out Chris's garden is about 4 miles away from me. . . ) on my heavy clay under the edge of my quince tree. It's not yet in flower outside (or wasn't on Wednesday when I last looked) but is looking very healthy at the moment. I think the quince must help protect it during the summer and keep it relatively dry. I certainly don't do anything else to it!
I visted a garden about this time last year in the Northumberland hills which had superb clumps of I magnifica in the garden - so there must be something more to it for these easy species than just keeping them dry. I'm not suggesting some of the really tricky ones will grow outside in northern britain, but maybe we should sometimes be a bit more adventurous and a bit less ready to believe everything we read - afterall, according to my Euphorbia book, my Euphorbia mellifera shouldn't grow north of the english midlands - good job it can't read!
It can be hard when you've spent the eqivalent of a good bottle of wine (or case of wine for some of the irises I want to grow!) to risk the plant outside - I guess that's where trying seedlings or divisions is a possible route.
I seem to remember reading somewhere years ago that you shouldn't say a plant wouldn't grow for you until you'd tried it 3 times in 3 different places outside, and if you are able to grow your own, it's a bit cheaper! If anyone knows the source of the quote I'd be grateful.
Sue

[Diane Clement]

Iris magnifica alba, grown from Gotenborg seed, I know it's not particularly special, but I'm pleased to have got this far.  Second year of flowering this year

[Maggi Young]

Very clean white, isn't it? Good, healthy foliage, no wonder you are pleased, Diane.

[Lesley Cox]

Diane, I think I. magnifica alba  is very special indeed. Maybe not one of the most difficult, but sooooo beautiful and very reliable, and these, I think are what makes something special, not just rarity or difficulty.

Chris, you mention slightly acid soil. In general, junos like a bit of lime.

[David Shaw]

Here are our Iris bucharica. One lot grown in a pot in the greenhouse, the others are in the garden. Both pictures were taken today (and don't try to read anything into the date). They don't do well outside for us but are easy under glass.

[Lesley Cox]

Mmmm, see what you mean David. Perhaps the northern half of Scotland is just not sufficiently like Central Asia for junos.  Lovely potful though.

[fermi de Sousa]

Sue,
I think the quote you want is from Tony " I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself...at least three times."  Avent of Plants Delights Nursery (http://www.plantdelights.com/) in the USA
cheers
fermi

[David Shaw]

Can anyone identify this juno iris for me?
Thanks

[tonyg]

Looks like another I bucharica David.