One of the easiest iris to grow in our gardens is the little native Iris cristata, the crested iris, which is found wild over most of the South, usually along wooded brooks or creeks.
Some iris species are valued only by the collector, but this dainty one appeals both to the discriminating gardener and to the uninitiated.
The English were quick to appreciate it when it was brought to their notice.
When I was a child, the keenest thrill of the spring woods was to find these little “wild flags” straddling the shallow brook.
Their rhizomes completely out of the soil or climb the mossy banks, and then pick the crab-scented flowers of the iris to smell.
Increasing Your Iris Stock
One of the easiest iris to grow in our gardens is the little native Iris cristata, the crested iris found wild over most of the South, usually along wooded brooks or creeks.
Some iris species are valued only by the collector, but this dainty one appeals to the discriminating gardener and the uninitiated.
The English were quick to appreciate it when it was brought to their notice.
When I was a child, the spring woods’ keenest thrill was finding these little “wild flags” straddling the shallow brook.
Their rhizomes completely out of the soil or climb the mossy banks and then pick the crab-scented flowers of the iris to smell.
Good Growing Conditions
Under good growing conditions of the iris, they multiply rapidly; each rhizome may send out as many as seven or eight stolons to form new rhizomes to bloom the following spring.
They should be planted about 5” or 6” inches apart, with the rhizomes barely covered (don’t worry if they soon work themselves partly or out of the ground).
Their first choice of soil is a mixture of humus and gravel, moist but well-drained, but they will accommodate themselves to most types.
But they do not like alkaline soil or the shade of a tree whose foliage is dense in summer.
Peculiar Iris Characteristic
Iris cristata grows about 5” inches tall. One of the peculiar characteristics of the iris is the way the leaves lean on their “elbows” to grow.
The narrow standards are spread, not upright; the petal color is a delicate lavender blue with a touch of gold on the falls.
Lack Of Fragrance
Its scent is elusive in a way that reminds one of the violets; the first breath is exquisite but tries to sniff it again, and the flower usually seems to be odorless.
A white form, Iris cristata alba, is seldom found. It is somewhat smaller and is lacking in fragrance.
North of mid-Ohio in the Great Lakes region, Iris cristata is replaced by Iris lacustris, which is similar except for being smaller. Unfortunately, neither is quite as easy to grow as Iris cristata.
44659 by Kay Cob Bin