Iris unguicularis as I have grown it for several years in a part shade situation in San Diego "Sunset Western Garden zones 23/24 border o...Read Morer (USDA 10) Has been a very low care, moderately drought tolerant plant. The small yet orchid-like violet-blue and yellow blooms arise like spring flowers only in the fall and very early winter here. They do not come from mature fans of leaves like most iris but send up singular flowers from tubes that are about 6" tall. By the time the bloom is over the dark green grassy leaves are dominant. By spring and summer there is an attractive mound of leaves that remain intact with little water. Spring divisions may not bloom until the next year's fall season. I am going to try late summer divisions to see if there is a difference.
I find this plant to have great possibilities for a low-meadow type garden with various small grasses and sedges and grass-like plants. Other winter-spring bulbs that would work really well in our southern climate are Sparaxis, Babiana, Freesia, Gladiola ssp.(some), Cyrtanthus...I am sorry but I have a list of at least 35 genus and totalling 82 if I include cultivars and varieties.
Iris unguicularis as I have grown it for several years in a part shade situation in San Diego "Sunset Western Garden zones 23/24 border o...Read More