Saturday, January 25, 2014

Iris reticulata - Always a charmer

By Mike Unser

Iris reticulata is always the first spring bulb to make an appearance in my PNW garden, beating even the snowdrops in bringing a cheerful spot of color. With our cold winters, dry summers and sandy soil these little gems are pretty care free here, making them even more welcome.




Above: I. reticulata "Katherine Hodgkin"
Below: I. reticulata "Cantab"




They are excellent additions to a rock garden but also do well potted. If you live in a climate with wet summers you can always toss their container under cover after the foliage dies back and bring it out again in late autumn. Look for them at your local garden center. Reticulatas are often sold alongside crocus and daffodil bulbs in the autumn.

5 comments:

  1. Congratulations!! Another new AIS presence on the web!! Nicely done.

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  2. Neat idea to grow them in the stone planter. Do you teat them as annuals and plant something else later in the season?

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  3. Actually I just move the stone planter (really hypertufa) around back and bring it back out front in late winter.

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