Dear all;
Although this spring has been a climatic roller coaster and a
disaster for some plants here, the Juno Iris are spectacular.
The first one up - Iris aucheri is not the first to bloom. It
has pale blue flowers of typical Juno form on modest 12 in stems.
First blooming is the hybrid 'Sindpers' a cross between I
aucheri and I galatica ( they used to be known as I sindjarensis & I
purpurea). A gorgeous mix of pale blue violet shades on a dwarf plant.
The biggest show is from a variety of I. magnifica forms from
the typical pale violet, to almost pure white ('Alba'). The tallest
is just over 27 inches tall ( nearly 68 cm!!) and may have upwards of
20+ blooms. Self sown seedlings in the grass are nearing bloom size.
For high impact the dwarf. "I. Willmottiana 'Alba'" can't be
beat. My plants have grown into a small 'carpet a foot across with
dozens of open flowers. A fast grower. The "s above are due to the
name of this plant being in dispute. Some think this is nothing more
than a white I. bucharica, but to my eyes this looks quite different.
Two hybrids are 'Warlsind' and 'Blue Warlsind' . Both are
crosses of I warleyensis x aucheri (remember sindjarensis?). The
'typical has striking flowers marked in white, yellow and brown,
while the blue has lost the white for a pale blue color. Mid-size
(about a foot) and their striking patterns and contrast in color
makes a good show.
Just starting now are a few different I graeberiana with
white falls, blue falls or yellow falls - all distinct clones. Plants
reach under a foot and are less vigorous than most of the above here.
I bucharica, the first Juno I ever tried, but now one of the
trickiest for me to maintain. Flowers are variable from all yellow to
yellow /white combos. Not sure why it has been quite so difficult.
Less than a foot tall.
Of course my most difficult Juno is my favorite, the unique I
cycloglossa. It looks more like a Dutch Iris with tall thin stems and
wide flat flowers in blue-violet. It stays around, but bloom is iffy.
Wish I could grow this in the right spot.
All of these are growing either in the open garden in a dry
spot or light shade, but mostly on a rock wall bed in full sun and
good drainage. All stay out all year, summer and winter, rain and
ice.(and recent hail!).
I would welcome suggestions for other good hardy garden
worthy Junos to try. Surely another one or two can take my
conditions. This subgenus of Iris contains about 60 species so it is
wide open for more species.
And if you haven't tried any I magnifica is the beginner to
start with. Easy and fast. The PBS Wiki page on Junos has many of
these pictured.
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/…
Not your typical tall-bearded iris and a worthy garden plant.
Best Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +