Iris--TOW I lazica

John Grimshaw johngrimshaw@tiscali.co.uk
Fri, 12 Mar 2004 01:21:49 PST
On Wednesday night one of the members brought a bunch of Iris lazica to our
local Alpine Garden Society Group meeting, and commented that it was doing
particularly well this year. I could only agree, as my biggest patch was a
solid mass of lilac, looking splendid, although growing in a terrible shady
place. Perhaps it looks good now that the clump has expanded into a circle
with the middle more open, so the flowers can rise up clear of the foliage.

I have several clones, acquired over the years, differing rather slightly;
the one doing so well this week was the poorest one, banished to a corner!
The great thing about this plant is that it tolerates shade and ordinary
garden conditions, unlike I unguicularis, where a warm site is wanted for
its untidy tufts. Here it flowers sporadically from January onwards, and
then has a burst of flower about now. The leaves are usually quite neat,
although I suppose the tips can get tatty, but hardly worse than any other
Iris - NOT a genus noted for its beauty of foliage, although there are a few
exceptions (I. confusa and allies, and some of the variegated ones are OK).

John Grimshaw


Dr John M. Grimshaw
Garden Manager, Colesbourne Gardens

Gardens Cottage
Colesbourne
Nr Cheltenham
Gloucestershire GL53 9NP

Website: http://www.colesbournegardens.org.uk/


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