Showing posts with label rock garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rock garden. Show all posts

Monday, May 7, 2012

Iris lutescens campellii

In general, I like Iris.  For some reason, I find this diminutive species irresistible.  I think because it has the beauty of the tall bearded and standard dwarf bearded iris, without being in your face.  It's a quiet beauty that is always a pleasing sight in the spring.

Iris lutescens campellii is a neat dwarf iris found in dry areas ranging from Italy to southern Spain.  It has small lavender flowers with a darker purple signal and beards that are white with some yellow.  Foliage is typical blue-green iris foliage that is slightly curved.  Because of its small  size (4-6" in my garden), it makes an excellent addition to the rock garden or trough garden. 

It can also be used in a mixed perennial border as long as care is taken to make sure it isn't over crowded by other plants.  Make sure it has well drained soil, as like most bearded iris it doesn't like excess water.  While drought tolerant, it doesn't want to be too dry either, and will perform best with some irrigation and fertilizer in the summer months.