PBSWiki - Reticulata Irises

Reticulata irises , Mathew’s subgenus Hermodactyloides from western Asia, are another section of bulbous irises. Leaves of this section are grey green and square or almost cylindrical in cross section. Bulbs have netted tunics and the flowers long tubes. They are small plants that are mostly very hardy, flower in early spring and are dormant in summer. They are suitable for rock gardens, bulb frames or alpine houses and should be planted in well-drained soil that can dry out in summer.

Rodionenko in Род Iris considers the reticulate irises as separate genus, Iridodictyum.

Iris bakeriana from southern Turkey, northern Iraq, and western Iran where it grows on stony hillsides. It has bluish lilac standards and styles. Falls are white with deep blue tips, lines, and blotches. This species has nearly cylindrical leaves unlike other reticulata species. Photo by John Lonsdale.

Iris danfordiae is from mountain locations in Turkey where it flowers near the snowline. It has bright yellow dotted green flowers with a deep yellow or orange crest. Bulbs need to be planted deeply or they will split into smaller non-blooming bulbs. Photo by John Lonsdale.

Iris 'George' is a hybrid of Iris histrioides and Iris reticulata. Photo by John Lonsdale.

Iris 'Harmony' is a popular hybrid of Iris histrioides and Iris reticulata with a nice contrast of blue and yellow. Photo taken March 2005 by Jay Yourch.

Iris histrio - This is a small species from from southern Turkey, Syria and Lebanon and has beautiful baby blue flowers with intricate markings, shading to purplish blue at the base. First photo by Mark McDonough taken April 7, 2004, at 7:00 AM when the temperature was 28 degrees Fahrenheit (frozen). Other photos by John Lonsdale.

Iris histrio ssp. aintabensis is from southern Turkey. It has pale smaller blue flowers that are splashed darker on the falls and with a yellow or orange ridge. It is reported to be easier to grow than the species. Photo by John Lonsdale.

Iris histrioides is a reliable hardy species from Turkey with large 2-3" (6 –7 cm) blue flowers, spotted falls, and a yellow ridge.

Iris histrioides var. sophenensis from Turkey is deep violet-blue with little veining or spotting , narrow petals and a yellow ridge. Photo by John Lonsdale.

Iris hyrcana is now considered to be Iris reticulata

Iris 'Katherine Hodgkin' - A justifiably coveted reticulata Iris hybrid of Iris winogradowii and Iris histrioides. When it first opens, the flowers have an ethereal color scheme that's hard to describe; a tinge of sea-green suffused with powder blue and fabulous intricate markings. The photo by Mark McDonough taken April 7, 2004, at 7:00 AM when the temperature was 28 degrees Fahrenheit (frozen). These Irises don't care about such adversity and keep their flowers wide open anyway. Two similar views are here, one showing the markings with better clarity. A third photo from Peter Maynard shows this species performing in the open garden in the United Kingdom.

Iris kolpakowskiana from the Tien Shan Mountains, Turkestan where it is found on hillsides in wet sticky clay that dries out in summer. It has three or four narrow channeled leaves and pale lilac-blue flowers with a deep reddish-purple blade to the falls and an orange-yellow center ridge. Photos by John Lonsdale.

Iris 'Lady Beatrice Stanley' - Another desirable hybrid, this one is wedgewood blue and has wide falls that are intricately marked. First photo by Mark McDonough taken April 7, 2004, at 7:00 AM when the temperature was 28 degrees Fahrenheit (frozen). Second photo by John Lonsdale.

Iris pamphylica is from southern Turkey where it grows in rocky places. It has flowers carried on a stem (unlike other species). Standards are blue with purple- brown falls with a yellow blotch. Photo by John Lonsdale.

Iris reticulata is the best known species with a wide range of colors from blue to violet to purple. It grows in mountain meadows and rocky hillsides in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, the former USSR, Caucasus, and Transcaucasus. It is 3-6" (7-14 cm.) , usually with a bold stripe of yellow in the center of the falls. There are a number of garden plants with cultivar names and some that are hybrids with other species. Photos by John Lonsdale.

The form once considered to be Iris hyrcana has clear blue flowers and a bright yellow ridge. It grows in Iran and adjacent areas and is best grown in a frame or alpine house. Photo by John Lonsdale.

Iris reticulata 'Lovely Liza' is a hybrid between 'Joyce' and 'Clairette' colored plum and indigo with white falls. Photo by Mark Mazer.

Iris 'Sheila Ann Germaney' - is a another desirable hybrid between Iris histrioides and Iris winogradowii. It is similar to 'Katherine Hodgkin', but more even pale blue toned and showing less influence of the yellow palette. First photo by Mark McDonough taken April 8, 2004, at 7:00 AM when the temperature was 29 degrees Fahrenheit (frozen). Second photo by John Lonsdale.

Iris winogradowii has pale primose yellow flower with green spots on the falls. It is native to one mountain in the Caucasus (central Asia) where it grows in alpine meadows and is small at 4-6" (10-15 cm.) Photo by John Lonsdale.

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