Iris and some Irids 2008

[Hans A.]

Well worth waiting for Hans!

I agree

[Lvandelft]

Here Iris orientalis ( bought as Iris ochroleuca 'Gigantea') a species of the Spuria - section has started to bloom -  I planted it about 5 years ago, and this is its first flower  - normally I have less pacience 

Hans I don't know I orientalis, but for I. ochroleuca Gigantea you would need a lot of space.
So maybe not to bad, getting I. orientalis.

[Hans A.]

Luit, following Brian Mathew Iris ochroleuca is the synonym for Iris orientalis - and you are right - its a large plant

[Rafa]

Excelent Hans, beautiful plant I was worth it

[arillady]

Yes it is a beautiful iris - I have grown the straight species but not Gigantea. Iris ochroleuca syn orientalis does well here.
I am waiting - after nearly 10 years for my seed grown plant of Iris grant-duffii to flower - it keeps coming up every year up the back on the hillside and then I keep checking for a flowering stalk and then it dies down again. It does have a few increases - any hints on forcing it to flower - calcium?
Pat

[mark smyth]

Can someone tell me if Iris taurica is suitable for a trough? I bought some last week is small pots that make them look suitable for troughs.

One of the pots has produced creamy yellow flowers. Is this a yellow form or another Iris?

[Diane Clement]

Can someone tell me if Iris taurica is suitable for a trough? I bought some last week is small pots that make them look suitable for troughs. One of the pots has produced creamy yellow flowers. Is this a yellow form or another Iris?

It is suitable for a trough or scree.  Several of the species of dwarf bearded irises do have yellow and purple forms.  By the way, Iris taurica is a synonym for Iris pumila.  It was once considered a subspecies but now just included in I pumila.   

[mark smyth]

Thanks Diane. The plants that I have bought dont look like I. pumila shown in the forum

From the same source, Timpany Nursery, I bought Iris bloudowii. I cant find any information on it. Is it suitable for troughs or pots?

[David Nicholson]

Iris bloudowii-shortened quote from Brian Mathew's 'The Iris'

Subgenus iris, Section Psammiris (things may have changed?)
...... allied to I. humilis. Grows 15-35cm in height, strong leaves up to 30cm long and 7-13cm wide. Plant looks much leafier than I. humilis. Very inflated bracts containing 2/3 yellow flowers which have purple or brownish stain on lower part of segments. Falls have yellow beard, flower rather larger than I humilis, usually 5cm in diameter. Native of Siberia and Russian Central Asia in Tien Shan Mountains, est to Mongolia, possibly also in China. Flowers May/June in wild. Appears to be less tricky to keep than I. humilis.

Pretty little plant.

[mark smyth]

5cm! Mine tip to tip are just over 8cm. Thanks for the info

[Lesley Cox]

I'd put II.taurica and bloudowii or humilis on the rather large size for a trough unless it was quite a large one. They all make good clumps, increasing to over 40cms across after a couple of years.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I agree with Lesley Mark - they are pretty big but short stemmed flowers, looking excellent for a trough, but the clumps will rapidly outgrow their allowed space.

[mark smyth]

OK but as my troughs are probably too small they will have to go on the rockery

[Lesley Cox]

They'll look great there Mark. The little beared irises love a rock to snuggle up against where the reflected heat ripens the rhizomes for a good flowering next year.

For a trough, if you can get hold of it, I. flavissima is excellent. It is very close botanically to I.bloudowii/humilis but is smaller and neater and the foliage dies right down for winter. The flower is similar to the one in your pic above, a little smaller though. Or you could try I. melitta and its lovely smokey purple form, var. rubromarginata.

[Boyed]

This is our native tall bearded iris Imbricata, that I brought 2 years ago from the south of the country when was in an excursion. It only started to flower this year and I am prity impressed by its tender cremish-yellow blooms