ORNAMENTAL PLANTS OF HORTICULTURE VALUE

Selection of perennials

A genus of 11 species closely related to Iris L. 2 species in Central Asia, others occurs in the Caucasus and Asia Minor.

I. kolpakowskianum (Regel) Rodion.

Central Asia (Tien Shan). On rocky slopes, up to 1,000 m.

Tuber-bulbiferous plant 7-15 cm. Leaves 3-5, linear, grass-like 10-15 cm long. Flowering stem bears one dark violet flower 5-7 cm diam. V - early spring, March, April, just after snow melting. Fl - for 2-3 weeks in early spring, April in St. Petersburg. Fr - June. P - by seed or by daughter bulbs. Prefers well-drained soil. Grows well in sunny places, however, can grow and flower in semishade. Z 5 (4). New.

I. winogradowii (Fomin) Rodion.

Caucasus (Adzharo-Imeretinskiy Range, Mt. Lomtismta). Slopes, on gravelly soil, very rare.

Tuber-bulbiferous plant 7-10 cm. Leaves procumbent quadrangular in cros-section, acuminate, up to 15-20 cm long after flowering, but scarcely developed at flowering time. Flowers solitary, large, pale or bright yellow. V - from early spring, just after snow melting, in St. Petersburg new growth appears March or April. Fl - April. Fr - in May-June. Leaves die off soon after flowering, before fruiting. P - by seed or daughter bulbs. Grows well in sunny places, and in shaded sites also; prefers well-drained soil. Z 4 (3). New.