HIST: Iris germanica colour ?

> From: bourdillon.iris <BOURDILLON.IRIS@wanadoo.fr>
> I am writing on the I.germanica you know ? yes ! but wich color is it for
you
> ? could you help me ?

Luc,

Various forms of I. germanica are the irises most commonly grown here in
what Anner Whitehead has called "vernacular" gardens, i.e., gardens of
people who are not either iris or general gardening enthusiasts. I have
observed what appear to be at least five or six different forms, but I can
only attempt to identify the three most common ones. They are as follows in
the order of their occurence locally:

1. An intensely colored deep red-purple, slightly bitoned, but appearing
almost a self from a distance, that blooms at IB height (19-23" = 48-58cm).
This appears to be the same as the iris described by Dykes as I. germanica
nepalensis (synonyms: I. g. atropurpurea; Purple King). Dykes identifies
the "natural" range of this form as reaching from Fontarabie across the
northern margins of the Mediterranean through Asia Minor to Kashmir and
Nepal. I have a book on Renoir's Garden that has photos of large beds of
irises at his villa at Cagnes that appear to be planted exclusively with
this variety.

2. A bluish white variety that blooms at short TB height and is
unmistakably I. (germanica) florentina.

3. A distinctly bitoned blue-violet (neglecta) with a slight reddish cast
in the falls that blooms at short TB height (28-32" = 70-80cm). This
corresponds to Dykes' I. germanica vulgaris (syn: I. g. typica), which he
identifies as the most common form found growing in England, and, I
believe, in most parts of the U.S as well. 

Jeff Walters in northern Utah  (USDA Zone 4/5, Sunset Zone 2, AHS Zone 7)
HIPS Commercial Source Chairman
jcwalters@bridgernet.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE IRIS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index