BE SURPRISED BY WINTER IRISES
Choose well and irises will see you through to spring
IRISES are probably the most flamboyant of summer flowers: their sparkling rainbow colours are simply dazzling. But at this time of year? Well, actually, yes. There are irises in flower in November – not to mention February – and there are even irises with bright berries!
In November and December (and beyond) we have Iris unguicularis, the fragrant Algerian iris. A short plant for hot and sunny places, its blooms come in blues and purples, plus white. It makes steadily spreading clumps about 12-16in (30-40cm) high, with slender leaves and a long succession of colourful flowers. There are a number of varieties, but they can be difficult to find in nurseries.
I. unguicularis is ideal for cutting, too, although the flowers grow in an unusual way. Blooms develop from a short stem at the base, and if you simply cut off the flowers as low down as possible you’ll be cutting off the follow-up flower buds. Instead, slide your fingers down the stem until you feel a bump, then snip just above it.
Also at its peak in autumn and early winter is quite a different plant, the shade-loving British native stinking iris, I. foetidissima. Don’t be put off by the name; trust me, the flowers are not foetid. In fact, no part of the plant is the least bit stinky. Unless, that is, you break the foliage and sniff it. Realistically, though, no one is going to do that, so forget about it.
The flowers of I. foetidissima open in summer, but at this time of year the seed pods have split to reveal rows of impressive berries in a bright orangered or, very occasionally, white.
Finally, there’s a whole range of winter and spring varieties of iris, mainly derived from I. reticulata, which grow from small bulbs. Available in an increasing choice of colours and bicolours, these are easy to grow. And while it’s a little late to plant bulbs – though worth a try if you see some on sale – you’ll find container plants, in bud, in garden centres next year.
Who’d have thought there were so many options for iris in winter?