IRIS LATIFOLIA

Description

Very rarely offered from seed, this semi-dwarf iris from the Pyrenees displays deep blue, six-petalled flowers, with yellow marks in the centre of the lower petals, on short stems from May until July. Also known as The English Iris, Iris latifolia, Iris xiphiodes and Iris anglica, it is a common and attractive iris of the Pyrenees and Northwestern Spain. The leaves are stiff and sword-shaped and are approximately 60 cm long. In the wild, leaves begin growth in early spring, before the snow has entirely melted.

Sowing Advice

For best results, sow immediately onto a good soil-based compost. Cover the seeds with fine grit or compost to approximately their own depth. They can be sown at any time, and germination can sometimes be quicker if kept at 15 to 20 degrees C. We sow most seeds in an unheated greenhouse and wait for natural germination, as many seeds have built-in dormancy mechanisms, often waiting for natural spring germination, hence giving them a full season of growth.

Key Facts