GERANIUM
(Geraniaceae)
Hardy geranium
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 Geranium linearilobum
'Roseum' ~
A tuberous geranium formerly known, and listed, as G. transversale, this beautiful spring ephemeral has relocated to G. linearilobum. But we don't want this to divert you from the plant
in question, which, as you probably already suspected, is noteworthy
for the bright pink coloration of its spring flowers (mid-May here), to which it
adds the usual ornamental virtues of the species (most notably the deeply lobed
leaves). At 8 to 12 inches tall, it's well suited to a rock garden, patio planting, or border edge. To keep it happy, you'll need to provide sun and dryish summer conditions (with well drained soil required in areas such as the eastern and central United States). Steppe; Uzbekistan. Zone 5.
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1/$4 |
 Geranium linearilobum
f. laciniatum ~
In this elegant, airy form the leaves are cleft into especially fine,
linear lobes. The flowers are of the typical geranious
carmine-purple. Steppe; Uzbekistan. Zone 5.
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1/$4 |
| Geranium macrostylum ~
The tuberous geraniums appear far to rarely in gardens (and we're not going to retract that declamation until our tuberous geranium traffic increases markedly). This one is a bit larger (12 to 15 inches) and coarser than G. linearilobum, with clusters of pretty purple-veined, mauve-pink flowers in May. This sun-lover needs relatively dry soil in summer. Modified continental/montane; Caucasus. Zone 5.
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1/$2.50 |
GLADIOLUS (Iridaceae)
Hardy gladiolus |
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 Gladiolus imbricatus
~
This is perhaps the showiest and most garden-worthy of the hardy Gladiolus species. Dense, one-sided spikes of up to 12 zingy carmine-purple, tubular blooms adorn 18- to 24-inch stems in early summer, the flowers held horizontally like blowing (and glowing) banners. Modified continental; E Europe to N Turkey. Zone 5.
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1/$7.50 |
HEPATICA (Ranunculaceae)
Liverleaf |
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 Hepatica nobilis
Blue Form ~ The wild European type. The neighbor's needn't worry, though – it's actually very dainty and well behaved, given a nook in the peat garden or trough, or anyplace else that has decent drainage, humus-rich soil,
and protection from hot sun. Arriving in earliest spring, the blue, anemone-like flowers with yellow eyes and contrasting white anthers are the epitome of charm, from which the three-lobed, nearly evergreen leaves does not detract. A little thing – some 3 to 6 inches tall and wide. Modified continental/maritime; Europe.
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1/$4 |
| Hepatica nobilis
'Rubra Plena' ~ Big, double, elegantly modeled flowers of a heart-
and hepatiphile-stopping rich rose-pink light up the early spring garden. These have been known to sell out early, even in years when we have relatively abundant stock (of which this is NOT one).... Modified continental/maritime; Europe. |
SOLD OUT
1/$25 |
HYACINTHOIDES (Hyacinthaceae)
Bluebells |
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 Hyacinthoides non-scripta 'Wavertree' ~ For decades, most alleged H. non-scripta bulbs on the market have actually been hybrids with H. hispanica. Here's an English bluebell that actually rings (and flowers) true. A floriferous, late-blooming selection from the bluebell-rich woods of Wavertree in Liverpool, England, it bears nodding (NOT upright), one-sided clusters of violet-blue bell-flowers in mid-spring. It certainly gets our nod. Maritime/modified continental; W Europe. Zone 5.
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1/$8 |
IPHEION (Alliaceae)
Spring starflower |
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 Ipheion uniflorum 'Alberto
Castillo' ~ Albinos are often the runts of the litter, but this
extraordinary selection bucks convention by producing the largest (and loveliest)
flowers of any Ipheion we know. The beautifully modeled blooms – on 4- to 6-inch stems – are pure satin-white. The lush, glaucous leaves are
also exceptionally broad. If we had to choose only one
of the genus (not a happy thought), this would be it. Subtropical;
Uruguay & N Argentina. Zone 5.
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1/$2.50 |
IRIS (Iridaceae)
Iris |
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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 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/$5 |
| 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 late winter on 5-inch stems. Sun required, as well as not overly damp soil in summer. 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 debuting in February in milder areas. Fragrant.
Our bulbs are propagated from vigorous, reselected stock. Steppe; C
Turkey. Zone 5. AGM
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1/$5 |
| 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. |
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1/$8 |
| 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
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This astounding and singular Regelia iris surpasses all adjectives, even those of the late G. S. Thomas, who marveled at its "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/$20 |
| 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 sintenisii ~ Richly hued reticulata-like flowers with narrow, satiny, violet-blue standards and white, purple-veined falls appear in May and June on compact, 6- to 10-inch stems, making this charming spuria iris a natural frontline or rock garden plant. The grassy leaves are evergreen in the mild winters of the Southeast (and Pacific West), where it does just fine. It's hardy into southern New England. Mediterranean/steppe; SE Europe and W Turkey. Zone 5.
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1/$9 |
| 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. |
SOLD OUT
1/$7 |
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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| Iris xiphium
'Lusitanica'
~
An ancestor of many Dutch hybrids, the yellow-flowered form of Spanish iris is more than the equal of any of them. Introduced to gardens more than 150 years ago, it bears large waxy golden yellow flowers with erect standards that resemble the feathers of some tropical bird. The narrow, arching falls are marked with pale veins and egg-yolk-yellow blazes. The narrow, grooved leaves appear in fall. This is a splendid plant for a sandy or rocky niche. Mediterranean; Iberian peninsula. Zone 6.
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1/$10 |
 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. Sun and dryish soil in summer are required.
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| Iris 'Cyanea'
~ Broad lavender-blue, purple-veined standards and deep velvet-purple, yellow-bearded falls add up to one honey of a dwarf bearded iris. Vigorous and floriferous, this antique cultivar (1899) blooms very early in the bearded iris season (mid- to late April is typical) on 8-inch stems. Zone 5.
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| 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/$6 |
 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'(the pale blue I. willmottiana and the
robust, yellow-crested I. magnifica); 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/$9 |
| 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/$12 |