Bulb time again everybody – as our summer garden is fading we can cheer ourselves up with thoughts of the glorious spring to come. However, there are some bulbs which are brave enough to bloom even in the depths of winter and sone of my favourites are the early flowering, dwarf varieties of reticulate Iris.
These little gems may be short on height but they are big on light – bringing a dash of brightness to the January garden with their cheerful flowers which seem to be able to resist all that winter can throw at them. This resilience may well be because they are native to Russia, the Caucasus and Northern Iran – where it can get very chilly indeed. The only thing they ask is to be planted in a well drained sunny position. You will hear that they are perfect for a rock garden but I think they need to be somewhere close to the house where you can see them as you pass on a dreary winter day. Just create the right conditions with lots of grit – or put them in a pot. Here are a few varieties to choose from:
Iris reticulata ‘Cantab’ is pretty popular and easy to find – I love the markings on the ‘falls’ which remind me of tiger skins.
Just look at this dark, exotic beauty, Iris reticulata ‘Pauline’ – seems rather a mundane name for such a regal bloom.
And Iris reticluata ‘Rhapsody’ with its intense blue colouring can look pretty dramatic grown in a naturalised fashion.
But if it is a bowl of sunshine you want then plant some Iris danfordiae.
If you love white flowers try Iris reticulata ‘Natasha’,
and for real wow factor, Iris reticulata ‘Blue Note’,
or ‘Sea Breeze’.
I don’t think it really matters which you begin with – just pick up what’s handy at the garden centre and plant them somewhere convivial – they will give you such pleasure come January and February.
