Iris variegata
| Iris variegata | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Subfamily: | Iridoideae |
| Tribe: | Irideae |
| Genus: | Iris |
| Subgenus: | Iris |
| Section: | Iris |
| Species: | I. variegata |
| Binomial name | |
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Iris variegata L. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Iris variegata is a species in the genus Iris, also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial. It is commonly known as the 'Hungarian iris'.
It was once known as 'Iris hungarica'.
It was described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in 'Species Plantarum' (on 1 May 1753).
Between 1800 and 1850, several Iris breeders (including Lémon, Jacques and Salter), started breeding border irises for the garden. These Irises were all the progeny of two species, Iris pallida and 'Iris variegata'. It was William Rickatson Dykes who worked out that these were the parents of most hybrids, especially those bi-coloured hybrids. These new irises were known as 'Tall Bearded Irises'. In the wild, hybrids of 'Iris pallida' and 'Iris variegata' are very similar to Iris germanica.
Hundreds of hybrids exist representing every colour from jet black to sparkling whites. The only colour really missing is bright scarlet. Many modern garden bearded irises are crosses of 'Iris germanica' and Iris variegata.
Iris variegata is an accepted name by the RHS.
As most irises are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes. This can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. It has a chromosome count: 2n=24.
It is extremely hardy, because after flowering, its leaves die entirely away in the autumn and the plants remain dormant, until the spring when it regrows leaves and stems. It is best cultivated in well drained fertile soils, but is tolerant of partial shade.
It can be easily grown in gardens in Kashmir.
Lifting, dividing and replanting the rhizomes is best done once flowering has finished, because this is when the plant grows the new shoots that will flower the following year. The rhizomes are placed on the surface of the soil facing towards the sun and with at least 45 cm of open ground in front of them - this allows two years growth and flowering. The plant is held in place by removing half the leaf mass to reduce wind rock and by using the old roots as anchors in the soil. The rhizome is placed on well dug ground and the roots placed either side into 10 cm deep grooves. The soil is then gently firmed around the roots, so holding the plant steady. New roots and leaves are created rapidly as the rhizome moves forwards.
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Wikipedia