Iris germanica L.
Fully-hardy, rhizomatous bearded iris with fans of sometimes evergreen, grey-green leaves and sparsely branched stems bearing blue-violet flowers with yellow beards, in early spring. To 1.2m, usually smaller. Many varieties of Iris germanica exist, a number are included in the Camden Park catalogues. [RHSE, Hortus].
Horticultural & Botanical History
‘Native of Germany, Switzerland, Dauphiny, and Italy, growing in uncultivated spots and on old walls; [the variety] beta is found near Halle, the stem of this is scarcely the length of one’s finger and about the length of the leaves, yet sufficiently distinct from Iris pumila. Desfontaines found the species in Algiers.
The commonest Iris in our gardens, where it flowers in May and June, is perfectly hardy, and to be propagated by dividing its roots in Autumn; seldom seeds.
Cultivated here by Gerarde in 1596. Clusius oberves that in his time it was much less frequently met with in the gardens of Austria and Hungary than Iris sambucina, and that he procured a supply of seeds for them from the Low Countries.
A pigment, chiefly used by miniature painters, called Verdelis, Vert d’iris or Iris-green, is made from its flowers, which are macerated and left to putrify, when chalk or alum is added.’ [BM t.670/1803].
‘An ornamental species, growing one and a half feet in height, with broad lanceolate leaves, and numerous large, conspicuous, pale azure-blue flowers, from four to six inches in diameter, forming an elegant object in the medium foreground of select shrubberies or flower borders.’ [Gard. Chron. 1854]. Introduced to Britain in 1573. [JD].
History at Camden Park
Listed in all published catalogues [B.235/1843].
Notes
Published Oct 31, 2009 - 04:50 PM | Last updated Jul 23, 2010 - 05:35 PM
Iris germanica L. | BM t.670/1803 | BHL
| Family | Iridaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | Unknown in the wild and probably of Mediterranean garden origin |
| Synonyms | |
| Common Name | |
| Name in the Camden Park Record | Iris Germanica |
| Confidence level | high |