Iris reticulata
The stone garden iris , Iris reticulata , is a nanus species in the Iridaceae family . It ’s one of the earliest spring - blooming blossom and a welcome sight in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9 .
To the delectation of agriculturalist worldwide , hybridizers continue to develop new people of colour to add to the down , lavender , majestic , or white innate color palette .
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‘Alida’
In ourguide to growing iriseswe allow for all you need to know to introduce these forerunner of outflow to your out-of-door living space .
This clause zeroes in on the unparalleled feature and requirements of the gnome sway garden species .
Here ’s what we ’ll cover :
‘Alida’
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
How to Grow
cultivar to Select
upkeep
Propagation
Pests and Disease
Unlike traditional full - size of it species and cultivars that acquire from stocky , elongated rhizomes , John Rock garden irises sprout from belittled bulb a bit likecrocuses .
I. reticulatais also known as weblike or reticulated sword lily because the tunica or papery sheath around the bulbs seems to be wander like net .
The bloom have six flower petal and pole atop leafless stems .
The upright petals are call “ stands ” and those that arch gracefully downward are get laid as “ falls , ” with a raise , bright - hue “ crown ” and flecks , spots , and striations of complementary or contrasting colors .
Some are sweetly fragrant , but this characteristic varies , as is often the shell with cultivate varieties .
Primarily dingy , lilac , and blanched , the ever - increasing number of hybrid cultivars include exciting new shades of browned and yellow .
The foliage is immature and strap - like and often stands improbable than the flowers . Mature dimensions are four to six inches tall and up to four inch wide .
Common name(s):Rock garden iris
plant life type : Perennial efflorescence bulb
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):5 - 9
Native to : East Turkey to Iran
flush time / time of year : Early spring
photo : Full Dominicus to part nicety
ground case : Average , well draining
Soil pH:6.0 - 7.5 , slightly acidic to neutral
Time to maturity:2 year
matured size:4 inch wide x 4 - 6 inch high-pitched
good uses : Beds , boundary line , container , the great unwashed plantings , rock gardens , woodland clearings
Taxonomy
Order : Asparagales
Family : Iridaceae
Genus : Iris
Species : Reticulata
I. Reticulatais native to the region spanning eastern Turkey to Iran .
The use of sword lily as ornamental date to ancient Egypt , where the three prominent “ fall ” flower petal symbolized braveness , faith , and wiseness .
E. A. Bowles of the British Royal Horticultural Society tame the lovely flax blueish ‘ Cantab , ’ one of the earliest naturalize hybrids in 1914 .
Iris company bristle today , and hybridizing breeding proceed to bring striking cultivars to market .
Rock garden irises are well - become to the front position of beds and borders and make attractive edging along entry sidewalk where you and visitors to your house can take account them .
Enjoy them in patio pots and window box , where a quick glimpse through a windowpane or threshold brings them into view . There ’s no garden too small for a pot or patch ofI. reticulata .
Mass plant a consecrated heading for a swath of color in a woodland clearing or naturalize bulbs through the lawn to love a unworried display before the rite of mow Begin .
When selecting a planting emplacement , consider fellow plants . tilt garden iris bulbs must stay as ironic as potential during dormancy .
Plantssuited to xeriscaping , like native perennial andornamental grasseswith down wet needs , can thrive in some of the driest garden soil .
Interplant with otherearly - give blooming flowers , such as crocuses , daffodil , glory - of - the - nose candy , other irises , like the dwarf bearded ( I. pumila),snowdrops , andhellebores . They , too , will be torpid by summertime .
These plants favour full Sunday to part shade and average , well - drain soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 .
During the spring grow season , the bulbs need even moisture . They prefer a juiceless sleeping season from summertime to winter and have a high tolerance for summer drought .
Too much rain during their sleeping full stop can cause the bulbs to moulder .
Providean inch of waterper week , include rain , from the time the foliage is visible until blooming conclusion .
Fertilize post - blush with a high - phosphorus , miserable - N product .
In addition tothe species develop in nature , many exciting cultivated diverseness are useable to the home gardener .
Here are three to whet your appetite :
Alida
‘ Alida ’ boasts light blue stand . The autumn are a slimly darker gamey shade and display a bright yellow crest , dark blue dapple , and white striations .
The lighter shade of this smorgasbord complement early - time of year pastels , like the blue , lilac-colored , and pink refinement of glory - of - the- snow .
Harmony
‘ Harmony ’ is a promising purplish - blue flower . The falls have big golden crests , white stripes , and violet grim flecks .
The mellow tones complement those of other crocuses in lavender , white , and scandalmongering chromaticity .
‘ Harmony ’
Harmony is also an splendid choice forindoor forcing .
‘ Harmony ’ electric light areavailable from Burpee .
Joyce
‘ Joyce ’ has deep blue flower petal with gold crests and splashes of white flecked with deep blue .
The richly saturated color pairs well with vivacious dwarf yellowish daffodil .
The rule of quarter round for irises is to separate them every three to five years in later summer or early fall to reduce volume .
Overcrowding is undesirable as it slim down melodic line circulation , leads to moisture buildup , and increase the peril of fungal disease .
Here ’s how :
You canlearn more about dividing fleur-de-lis here .
Other than dividing , since the incandescent lamp rest in the ground yr - around , they require little maintenance .
If you like , you candeadhead intact stemsof pass blossom but give the foliage in piazza to feed the electric-light bulb for next year ’s flower .
When the foliage withers and dies , you may clean up up the area to deflect go out plant debris for pests and pathogen to inhabit .
To propagateI. reticulata , you ’ll need to buy bulbs or find them from existing plant by class , as we described above .
Since the bulbs , blossom , leafage , and roots contain toxins that can make touch dermatitis and GI event in masses and pets , it ’s good towear gloveswhen handling them .
Work the garden soil to a astuteness of six inches until it is crumbly and debris - free in preparedness for implant lightbulb .
Some gardener like toadd osseous tissue mealfor a calcium and phosphorus boost . If you do , sprinkle it sparingly onto the soil and mix exhaustively before planting to avoid sunburn the bulbs .
For container gardening , fill a six - inch deep pot three - quarters of the manner with a light , well - debilitate potting mix .
specify the bulbs at a deepness equal to twice their width . Their circumference is approximately two inches , so you ’ll need to set the flat bottom of the incandescent lamp four in down from the grunge ’s surface .
Space them as close together as one in for a carpeting of colouration and three to five inches apart for a liberal arrangement . Odd - numbered clusters yield the most pleasing optical appeal .
enshroud them with soil or potting mix .
When the leave sprout , maintain even wet but nullify oversaturation .
Managing Pests and Disease
Unlike full - size mintage that bloom well into June , I. reticulatais relatively pest and disease - complimentary because its former - season debut takes place before many pests have awakened from winter dormancy .
When there is excess moisture , pitiful drain , and/or inscrutable shade , the resulting wet medulla and foliage appeal to night - foraging slugs and snails .
They leave telling trails of slime and masticate holes in their wake . you could sprinklefood - course diatomaceous eartharound industrial plant to keep them aside .
Ourarticle on slug and snail managementhas more detail .
Fusarium basal rot is make byFusarium oxysporumandF. proliferatumfungi . When these pathogens penetrate the bulbs , they cause rotting for which there is no discussion .
Avoid oversaturation to suppress fungal spore proliferation .
Irises that Rock
As lovely as they are various , rock garden irises are the perfect early - season light bulb for Zones 5 to 9 .
Grow them in full sun to part shade with medium soil that drains well . quash oversaturation , especially during the off - season dormant month .
Where will you growI. reticulatain your outdoor life infinite ? From beds to windowboxes , it ’s indisputable to sway emergent spring landscape painting with big color on a small scale .
And for more information aboutgrowing irises in your landscape , we urge these guides next :
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About
Nan Schiller
