Tall Bearded Irises

The flowers that we grow in our gardens today can be roughly divided into 3 groups. Wild flowers (species), selected forms of species, and hybrids.

Siberian irises (28 chromosome group)

The beautiful hybrids that we grow in our gardens under the common name of siberian iris, have originated from two main species: I. sibirica, and I. sanguinea, and more recently I. typhifolia has also been used in breeding.

Regelia and regeliocyclus Irises

The regelia group of irises are closely related to the oncocyclus group and originate from Central Russia, east to Afghanistan and Asia. They grow on dry banks in mountain valleys.

Pacific Coast Irises

There are 11 species of these most beautiful irises found along the West Coast of USA, mostly in California, but also in Oregon and Washington. Having very specific cultural requirements, these irises grow easily only in a few places, and we are lucky to be able to grow them here in Victoria.

Oncocyclus Irises

This group of bearded iris originate in the arid desert regions of the Middle East – Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Israel. Typically they have beautiful and exotic blooms with intricate markings, one bloom per stem. The seeds carry a conspicuous white aril, nearly as big as the seed itself.

Louisiana irises

Bird painting artist Audubon first used the term “Lousiana flag” to refer to these beautiful big brightly coloured irises. Found across southern USA from Florida and the Carolinas to Texas, and the Mississippi valley, this group is made up of 5 species.

Laevigata Irises

All members of this group grow in wet conditions in the wild, and can cross pollenate with one another.

Iris Virginica, Iris versicolor

Native to the eastern and southern states of the are these two similar, water loving irises, commonly known as American blue flag irises. I. versicolour is very hardy and bears slim petalled flowers ranging in colour from lavender to rich wine purple, with yellow veining on the falls. Leaves are broad, grey green, with purple at the base.

Juno Irises

Containing over 50 different species, the Scopiris subgenus, commonly known as Juno Irises, is a very large group but many of these species are rare and difficult to grow in the garden, and so are seldom seen.

The plants themselves differ markedly from other irises, having rich green glossy leaves which grow in the manner of a leek or taller like a small corn stalk. They grow from a bulb with thick fleshy roots, similar to daylily roots, but very brittle. The plants deplete the store of food from the roots as they grow and bloom, replenishing it as the leaves die back.

Japanese irises

Belonging to the Series Laevigatae, and native to Northern China, Eastern Siberia and Japan, these are better known as Japanese iris, having been collected, bred and cultivated in Japan for centuries. Modern varieties were developed in Japan, probably from a limited gene pool of Japanese origin.

Iris unguicularis - winter flowering iris

There are 2 species of iris in this winter flowering group:

I. unguicularis (Winter Iris, Algerian iris, I. stylosa) is found in nature growing in rocky country in Greece, Turkey & the Middle East.

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