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Our selection of this genus
comprises 3 main groups: Junos, Onco/Regelias, and Reticulatas. The
Junos hail primarily from Central Asia and other steppe-climate
regions, and are thus well adapted to dry summers and well-drained soil
(something they
absolutely require in localities that receive summer rain). Given
these, they are typically quite easy. Most Oncos and Regelias not only
derive from dry-summer regions; they also often favor relatively arid
habitats that remain fairly dry through winter. Consequently, most
Oncos and many Regelias demand both perfect drainage and protection
from summer, fall, and winter wetness. They will often succeed
unprotected in steppe and Mediterranean climate areas of the U.S., but
in other regions they may need to be dug in summer or grown under cover
(although we know of gardeners in Kansas and Massachusetts who
successfully grow Oncos outdoors with no protection). Reticulatas
generally take well to gardens (given a well-drained soil) in
most areas of the U.S., even though their epicenter is the steppes of
Turkey and Central Asia. They also accept some shade, which is usually
anathema to the Junos and Oncos/Regelias. |
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| Iris bucharica 'Baldschuan Yellow' ~ Here is another outstanding selection of this easy-to-grow species, this time in pure rich deep golden yellow, marked with a deep maroon blaze on its falls. Even though they are slow sellers, we will continue to list many varieties of Juno irises, so that U.S gardeners can have the chance to grow these wonderful plants. Steppe/montane; C Asia. Zone 5.
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1/$10 |
| Iris bucharica 'Princess' ~ In addition to an arresting color scheme, with rich butter-yellow falls arching
beneath frilly, pure-white standards, the flowers (up to 6 per stem) of this exciting new introduction also offer a sweet fragrance. Easy and
reliable in well-drained soil and sun. Steppe/montane;
NE Afghanistan. Zone 5.
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1/$10 |
| Iris graeberiana
hort. White Fall
~ Yet another easy and desirable Juno. This vigorous, sterile hybrid
produces up to seven clear-blue flowers – with white, maroon-tipped
falls – on 12- to 20-inch, leafy stems. Like most Junos, it appreciates
good drainage and summer warmth. April and May bloom. Steppe; central
Asia. Zone 5.
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1/$6 |
| Iris graeberiana
hort. Yellow Fall
~ As many as seven clear-blue flowers -- blazed primrose-yellow -- appear on 12- to 20-inch stems in April. Like 'White Fall', this is actually a hybrid, with I. graeberiana probably involved. Steppe; central
Asia. Zone 5.
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1/$6 |
| Iris histrio var. aintabensis ~
The pale, summer-sky-blue flowers, their falls splotched prettily with deep blue and yellow, are among the loveliest in the reticulated iris tribe, yet this highly garden-worthy plant is seldom grown. It blooms in February and March on 5-inch stems. Sun and well-drained soil required. Mediterranean; S Turkey. Zone 6.
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1/$6 |
| Iris histrioides
'Major' ~
Long absent from the trade, this old and beloved cultivar is
deeper-hued and earlier blooming than most forms of the species, its
6-inch-tall, gentian-blue flowers often debuting in February. Fragrant.
Our bulbs are propagated from vigorous, reselected stock. Steppe; C
Turkey. Zone 5. AGM
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1/$6 |
| Iris hoogiana ~
“One of the most beautiful of the irises” (Thomas), with “refined
flowers of clear uniform lavender-blue,” accented by yellow beards,
this is also among the easiest of the temperamental Regelia group,
thriving in dry-summer climates and succeeding in other regions in
sharply drained soil and sun. Steppe; C Asia. Zone 5. Enter quantity:
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1/$9 |
| Iris hoogiana f. purpurea ~
A striking deep-purple selection of the above. Steppe; C Asia. Zone 5.
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1/$9 |
| Iris hoogiana 'Bronze Beauty' ~
A vigorous and breathtakingly beautiful cultivar with pale purple standards and deep violet falls, the entire flower suffused and edged with bronze. At 28 inches tall, it's also one of the most stately Regelias. Steppe; C Asia. Zone 5.
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1/$9
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| Iris korolkowii
~
In the words of the late G. S. Thomas, this Regelia bears "narrow,
angular and very beautiful flowers of creamy white so heavily veined
with brown that the exact tint is difficult to describe." This all
happens on 18-inch stems in May and June. C Asia; Turkestan. Zone 5.
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1/$15 |
| Iris magnifica
'Agalik'
~
Magnificent indeed, its leafy stalk (reminiscent of Zea mays) rising to 30
inches and bearing several pale lavender-blue, orange-crested flowers
in April and May. Another easy Juno, thriving in sun and any
well-drained soil. Steppe/montane; Uzbekistan. Zone 5.
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1/$7 |
 Iris orchioides
(dwarf form) ~
If there's a better Juno iris (or bulb, for that matter) for the rock
garden, we do not know of it. Three or four creamy-yellow flowers with
wide-winged falls are borne on 6-inch stems in April. The broad leaves
are also handsome. Good drainage and sun are musts. This is the real
thing, not one of the imposters typically sold under this epithet.
Steppe; C Asia. Zone 5.
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1/$10 |
| Iris reticulata
'Kuh-e-Abr'
~
This recent selection from the wilds of Iran features flowers of a ravishing icy sky-blue with yellow-blazed falls. Steppe/modified continental. Zone 4.
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1/$4.50 |
 reticulata
hybrid 'Lovely Liza'
~
Delicious shades of plum and deep indigo combine in this beautiful new
hybrid of 'Joyce' and 'Clairette'. Bright white epaulettes decorate the
falls. Steppe/modified continental. Zone 4.
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1/$6 |
 Iris rosenbachiana Harangon Strain
~ Another very showy and very early Juno, whose large, light-blue
flowers with dramatically contrasting dark-purple blades arrive in
March or early April on 4-inch stems before the leaves emerge. It needs
sharp drainage and relatively dry summers and winters (in other
words, it's not going to like Houston). Steppe; Tajikistan. Zone
5.
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1/$13 |
| Iris stolonifera ~ Attempting to capture a flower such as this in words is an exercise in futility, but here goes. The colors involve lapidary tones of brown and silvery blue with purple veins. The segments are relatively narrow, and the standards are spreading rather than upright. A beautiful and relatively easy Regelia, requiring good drainage and full sun, and blooming in May. Steppe;
C Asia. Zone 5.
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1/$7 |
 Iris stolonifera 'Zwanenburg Beauty' ~ A stunning and tractable Regelia, bearing
“exquisite flowers” (Thomas) of pale lilac, edged and veined caramel-bronze,
on 16-inch scapes in May. Good drainage and full sun required. Steppe;
C Asia. Zone 5.
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1/$15 |
Iris vicaria ~ A shorter version of I. magnifica, with bluish-white, yellow-crested flowers on leafy, 12- to 16-inch stems. One of the handsomest of the Junos, and one of the easiest. April/May bloom. Steppe/montane; C Asia. Zone 5.
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1/$7 |
 Iris willmottiana
'Alba' ~
Continuing the theme of easily accommodated, highly ornamental, and
staggeringly rare Junos, here's a relatively compact (8- to 10-inch
tall) variation on the common Juno theme of white flowers,
yellow-crested falls. It's also notable for its white-edged, glossy
leaves. Despite the specific epithet, it's probably a hybrid. Steppe;
Zone 5.
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1/$13 |
| Iris 'Antiope'
~
I. hoogiana f. purpurea played a part in this recent and comely regeliocyclus hybrid. The flowers are creamy white washed with pale blue and lavender on the standards and blazed with deep smoky purple on the falls. Steppe; C
Asia. Zone 5.
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1/$9 |
| Iris 'Blue
Mystery' (Juno
hybrid)
~
Here is eloquent and elegant testimony that a hookup between two Junos
is bound to result in something good. In this joint effort of I. willmottiana and the
robust, yellow-crested I. magnifica,
the flowers are a sublime pale sky-blue with (you guessed it)
yellow-crested, purple-veined falls. As might be guessed from its
parentage, it is easily grown in sun and well-drained soil. Steppe; C
Asia. Zone 5.
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1/$13 |
| Iris 'Dardanus' (Regeliocyclus
hybrid) ~ The Regeliocyclus hybrids are “garden toys of the greatest interest”
that not only “fascinate and impel” (Thomas) but that also “should
be much more widely planted” (Jelitto & Schacht).
In this case, the Regelia I. korolkowii
‘Concolor’ teamed with the Onco I
. iberica to produce a fetching hybrid whose large
flowers – poised on strong, 2-foot stems in May and June
– have bright lilac standards and creamy, purple-veined falls.
Steppe/Mediterranean. Zone 5.
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1/$7 |
| Iris 'Dunshanbe' (Regeliocyclus
hybrid) ~ I. korolkowii, parent of many outstanding aril hybrids, teamed here with 'Persian Pansy' to produce a multi-hued beauty which is perhaps most remarkable for the iridescent orchid-mauve centers of its falls. The falls lighten to pale blue and amber at the base; the standards have plummy-grey tones with deep purple veining.
Steppe/Mediterranean. Zone 5.
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1/$9 |
 Iris 'Midday Blue' (Juno
hybrid)
~
Same parentage as 'Blue Mystery'; somewhat different but equally
alluring
result. The high-sky-blue flowers are a shade darker than its
sibling's,
but share its yellow-crested, purple-veined falls. Steppe; C Asia. Zone
5.
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1/$13 |
| Iris 'Morning Sky' (Juno
hybrid)
~
Another in the series of willmottiana x magnifica. In this case, the yellow blazed flowers are a mid lilac-blue, shading to a deeper purple-blue at their base. Gorgeous. We sell very few of these hybrids, but continue to offer them because they're too good not to share! Steppe; C Asia. Zone
5.
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1/$17 |
| Iris 'Teucros' (Regeliocyclus hybrid) ~ Another of those fetching and fascinating regeliocyclus hybrids (some
might call it an oncogelia, but we won't get into that), this time with
silvery, lilac-veined standards, and ivory falls blotched and veined
deep maroon (causing us to guess that the incomparable I. iberica
is in its pedigree). Mmmmmmm. Steppe/Mediterranean. Zone 5.
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1/$10 |
| Iris 'Theseus' (Regeliocyclus
hybrid)
~
This heirloom (1915) regeliocyclus is still well worth growing for its lavender flowers, veined with purple on its standards and bearing a large deep-purple central blotch on its cream-veined falls. Steppe; C
Asia. Zone 5. Enter quantity:
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1/$10 |
| Iris 'Thor' (Regeliocyclus hybrid) ~ I. korolkowii takes the lead in this remarkable hybrid, whose pale silvery-mauve, rather broad standards (reflecting its other parent, I. sari) and bluish-white falls are prominently streaked with purple-black veins. Requires good drainage and ample sun. Steppe; Zone 5. Enter quantity:
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1/$10 |
| Juno Bribe Collection ~ Okay — this moniker's worse than something out of The Serial (where's my Marvin Gaye t-shirt?), but we'll make it go away if we can only sell some of these beauties. Promise. One each of I. bucharica 'Princess', I. graberiana hort. White Fall, I. magnifica 'Agalik', and I. vicaria. A crew that should take easily to any well-drained, sunny site in the upper U.S. Steppe.Zone 5.
Enter quantity:
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1/$25 |