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Iris foetidissima, commonly named, Gladwin Iris, is a
perennial that can reach 1.5 feet tall and 12-18 inches
in spread. It is native to Western and Mediterranean
Europe. Good for open woodland gardens and shade gardens.
This majestic perennial has a long season of varied
interest for herbaceous borders. The flowers are
consisting of 3 sepals and 3 petals. In early Summer,
tall stems, 10-24" tall, emerge from clumps of bold
green foliage and each bears up to five 3 inch blooms of
deep purple tinged with yellow. The scented flowers are
hermaphrodite, they have both male and female organs. The
plant is self-fertile.
The dark green sword-shaped linear leaves to 24"
long and 1" wide are evergreen in warm Winter
climates. The plant spreads by means of its modified
stems, rhizomes, which are located below the soil surface.
It is perhaps grown more for its attractive coral seed
clusters than for its flowers. Flowers are followed by
seed capsules which mature over the Summer and split open
in early Fall to reveal stringy clusters of bead-like,
bright orange-red seeds which are extremely showy and
persistent, often remaining in the open pods on the
plants well into Winter. Seed stalks are valued for dried
flower arrangements.
Hardiness zones 6-9, (-22°C/-5°F, -5°C/25°F) in
Winter. The evergreen leaves are not very hardy, being
killed back by cold winds around -15°C, though the
rootstock is much hardier and the plant soon recovers in
Spring. It can grow in full shade or no shade. A good
ground cover plant, succeeding in dense shade. Best grown
in moist, well-drained soils. Established plants tolerate
some dry conditions. Iris foetidissima can grow in about
any well-drained soil.
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