CULT-CAT Variegated Irises
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: CULT-CAT Variegated Irises
- From: H*@AOL.COM
- Date: Mon, 23 Jun 1997 12:27:22 -0600 (MDT)
Park, from Knoxville, Tennessee, wrote:
>1. What cultivars of variegated Iris exist?
Answer: By variegated foliage I understand you to mean green marked with
white or yellow. Many irises have purple bases to their foliage, but these
are not generally subsumed under the term variegated. As far as I am aware,
at this time variegated forms exist of the species I. pseudacorus, I.
japonica, I. laevigata, I. foetidissima, I. tectorum, I. ensata and I.
pallida. All but the last are beardless irises. There are a few bearded
hybrids with variegated foliage as well.
>2. In your opinion, which have the most striking folliage? the most
striking
flowers?
Answer: Least stiking in both respects is pseudacorus, which tends to loose
its minor variegation as the leaves mature. The tectorum, which is said to be
quite desirable, is to all intents and purposes unavailable at the moment,
as is the foetidissima. I expect both to be ubiquitous around the time I
loose interest in them, which should be any old time now. I. foetidissima is
widely held to have nondescript blooms, but I like them. I. japonica is a
tender evansia and a crummy garden plant for most of the country. Manages to
be both rabidly stoloniferous and weak at the same time. Most of what is in
the trade as variegated tectorum is actually japonica. Japonica is, however,
not bad as a pot plant. Very stripey. I have never seen it bloom, but the
japonica with plain foliage is very beautiful. Both the variegated ensata,
often sold as 'Silverband" and the variegated laevigata are good plants with
striking, highly contrasting variegation on beautiful foliage and very
attractive flowers. The pallida comes in two forms: one is yellow green with
yellow stripes--aureavariegata, opften sold as "Zebra" and one with blue
green foliage with white stripes, argenteavariegata. The former is the
stronger plant by far, and both have the simple lavender flowers of the
species.
>3. Will any of these thrive as a marginal or submerged in the shallow part
of
my pond (top of pot 1" below water level)?
Answer: Ensata, laevigata, and pseudacorus. Also very good is variegated
sweet flag--acorus--the non-iris plant that pseudacorus is the pseud of.
>4. Do any of the variegated Iris come true from seed? If so, which ones?
Answer: No, not to my knowledge. Someone else may know of exceptions
>5. Are there any suppliers who specialize in variegated Iris, or ones who
carry most of the ones available. (Addresses or URLs please)
Answer: Nicholls Gardens: http:www.he.net/~ngardens/ (Virginia)
Iris City Gardens: 1-800-934-IRIS ( Nashville )
>Thanks in advance for your help.
Park T. Owen
Knoxville, TN - Zone 6B/7A
You are certainly welcome. You may also want to browse the Archives for
several vigorous discussions of the subject.
Anner Whitehead, Richmond, VA (speaking)
Henry Hall henryanner@aol.com
