Species Iris, Stinking Gladwyn, Stinking Iris

It's time someone gave this wonderful plant a little or a lot of love. Do you have dry shade? If you do, then this is the plant for you....Read More It's tougher than nails and can withstand poor soil, drought and shade. Neglect it or treat it well, and it will reward you with evergreen handsome strappy foliage, subtly pretty flowers in spring and spectacular seedpods that hang on autumn through winter.

The stinky smell resembles, I think, garlic. It's not very prominent on my plant unless I actually bruise or break the leaves.
...Read More /> I found my plant in the alley, chucked out by one of the neighbors. Don't know how long it lay out there but it responded very fast to being stuck in the soil, and even flowered that year. That's a tough plant!

I only wish the flowers were more conspicuous, I guess I'll have to find a place for this one closer to the walkway. They're pretty flowers and interesting, if not showy.

It always worries me when the botanical name means the smelliest.

A rhizomatous, perennial Iris from South and West Europe...Read More and North Africa.

Has sword like, evergreen, dark green leaves which is the source of the botanical name and have an unpleasent smell when crushed. Bears purple heavily tinged with yellow flowers which while 2-3 inches long are rather insignificant. The real attractive part of this plant are the seeds, the pods split open to reveal bright orange, yellow or occasionally white seeds which remain in place for some months.

Flowers May-July

Likes well drained soil in a sunny position although its not all that fussy really. Easy to grow and has good Autumn colour with the seeds.