Iris henryi and Iris cristata

This past weekend, a pot of Iris henryi, a rare woodland iris from China attracted a lot of attention at our garden party for the New England Primrose Society. Jim Almond, the guest speaker, particularly pointed it out. Darell Probst shared it with us  a while back, and the pot was a division that we had not planted yet. Look for this gem on-line from the few retailers who carry it. It is still hard to find, but Darell’s selection is starting to show up at a few nurseries who specialize in rare and interesting plants.

Not up for a rarity? Then try this miniature woodland iris that is much more common, but still only found in the gardens of those who are a little more serious about gardening – Iris cristata. Often found in the wild flower section of your nursery, this creeping tiny iris will create a carpet of flowers (albeit for a few days!) every spring. The color is luscious, and it always surprises me when I see it in bloom. Everyone who sees this in bloom in our garden, wants a piece of it. It spread fast, but never should you consider this as a ‘ground cover’, for it will cover the ground, but one must weed around it regularly.