Please dig out pictures that have irises in rock gardens, I am in need of ideas. I am thinking iris would be a low maintence addition to my site.

Bert

That sounds beautiful, Bert.

I don't have any yet, but I'm sure that someone will be along to post some pictures soon.

These are some that I hadn't even considered yet; many thanks for bringing up this topic.

There is a vast variety of smaller species Iris that are perfectly suited to the rock garden - many of these originate from hot summer/cold winter areas and require sharp drainage.
I'm not yet much into these special irises (maybe someday - hopefully other people can suggest and show some) but here are a few little guys that are well suited to the rock garden:
Iris danfordiae:

Iris taurica (a new planting of a fairly easy species):

Iris sp., Burdur, Turkey:

Iris taochia:

Iris mandshurica:

Iris taurica - yellow form:

Iris timofejewii:

Iris suaveolens - yellow form; Rick grows these much better than I do!

Iris chamaeiris:

Chelle, looks like my idea has legs, I have only grown TB but these are so special. They will be planted in the spring when I get down to Corinth, Ms where my retirement house is. Still it is zone 7b mid south, and totally similar to Memphis seasons. Since this is the wrong time to plant and my fav Schrieners ships in late summer, do you know where I could get iris in Mar?
Lori, do you think that any of those can tolerate 100 degree summers?

901Bertwood said: Since this is the wrong time to plant and my fav Schrieners ships in late summer, do you know where I could get iris in Mar?

That's one of the most difficult and elusive situations I've researched so far, Bert. I've found very few companies willing to ship iris in the springtime, and those few that do don't carry many selections. I've always had 100 percent success transplanting them in the spring, so I don't know why more of them aren't shipped then.

Maybe others here will know of a few places we can shop. I sure hope so.

901Bertwood said:
Lori, do you think that any of those can tolerate 100 degree summers?

I suspect heat may not be a particular problem for some (and some of the species Iris go dormant after blooming), though humidity might be... but then on the other hand, you're already growing iris cultivars that came from the same areas originally anyway (I mean waaaayyy back when), no? ...In other words, I could only guess! I have no experience growing in your climate, sorry.

Thx Lori and Chelle, sometimes the big box has some in spring. Sometimes I do all the dividing in the spring and they really take off as long as you respect the newer roots.

You may be able to buy Iris pumila in pots from a perennials nursery or garden center in spring. Here are pics of Iris pumila 'Alba' flowering with an Aubrieta, and Iris pumila 'Atroviolacea' flowering with Tulip batalini.



These irises need more space than the bulbous ones, and you need to watch out that their rhizomes don't crowd neighboring plants.

I think June has the right idea. If you can find iris in pots, and not just the rhizome or bulb, you should do fine. Most iris with rhizomes (like the bearded types) have roots that initiate and grow vigorously at certain time(s) of the year, and not so much at other times. Spring, and especially fall are not a time for expansive root growth. Roots do grow, but starting with virtually nothing from a dried rhizome means they don't grow much at all. That's why potted plants are the way to go at these times. However, if you dig iris in the spring keeping roots intact, they will transplant easily.

Some rock garden iris that I grow:
Unknown I. pumila hybrid - 4-6 inches


Iris pumila - wild form -12 inches


Iris 'Spring Peeper' standard dwarf bearded - 10-12 inches


Iris attica (now Iris pumila subsp. attica) - this one is 6 inches, and the same plant the following year in a wetter season.


Iris suaveolens, - 4 inches at flowering. (yellow form and I. suaveolens var. rubromarginata)

summer/winter foliage (evergreen)


Iris tectorum - 12 inches


Iris chrysographes - 14-16 inches


Iris hookeri nana - 6-8 inches


Iris lacustris - 4 inches


Iris humilis - 6 inches


Iris lutescens 'Campbellii' - 10-12 inches


Iris hybrid - twice blooming: early spring 8-10 inches) and late spring (20-24 inches)

June and Rick you both have smaller varieties and look perfect for the rock garden.

This was sold to me as I. suaveolens, but Dee subsequently told me it was I. attica (now a synonym for I. pumila subsp. attica).



Here it is next to a cigarette lighter to show the size:

I think Dee is likely right. Honestly, I don't know of a definitive way of separating them. I've grown I. suaveolens for ten years, and I.p.subsp. attica for only five years. Assuming the identities are correct, the noticeable differences is overall size of the plant (attica is larger) and length of the floral tube (in proportion, much longer in attica). Growth patterns are very susceptible to environmental characteristics. They need really harsh conditions to get the well formed, falcate leaves... dry soil, absolutely NO crowding, lots of air and lots of sun. Both species are evergreen (even in zone 4). Falls have a stronger tendency to turn under with suaveolens, as you might expect. When you deal with species, there is always so much variation that may occur. In my pics above, I. suaveolens grows actually grows in less harsh conditions than attica.

I think I may have been misunderstood. I wasn't questioning Dee's identification. I was merely posting photos of my RG irises and added the explanation about the identification simply as additional information.

Well there ya go, then: another vote confirming her opinion.

Zulu your zone is similar to mine, thanks for posting. They are truly a new direction for me but I'm looking forward to hunting for them around here. Last frost is about April 11th but that is really late for I am drawn out to the garden at the ides of March.

Iris attica. At 5.5 inches, I am surprised it is keeping its "natural" form so well with all the rain and lack of sun we've had. But it has also been cold (40-45F), so perhaps that's why.


Iris suaveolens var. rubromarginata 4.5 inches. (Iin the background: Taraxacum albidum, Penstemon pinifolius, Penstemon grandiflorus)


Iris suaveolens 4.5 inches. (in the background, a large clump of Allium moly)

I have jewel baby growing in my rock garden , plan to transplant more of the mini's there this year.

mysterious little beardless iris in my rockgarden...

Nice iris
Is it blooming now? How tall?

Hey Cinda,
yes, that's its pic from a couple days ago. The tallest flower is about 6 inches high.