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Herbaceous Perennial

Iris paradoxa

unusual iris

A rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, 10-25cm high, with narrow leaves 2-4mm wide, and flowers in spring or early summer. The erect standards may be white, veined with deep blue-violet, to uniform deepest purple, pale blue or pale yellow; the somewhat horizontal falls may be blackish-violet, through pale purple densely overlaid with black-purple veins, to golden yellow, and the beards are velvety black-purple; it is dormant in late summer

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Iridaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Iris may be rhizomatous or bulbous perennials, with narrow leaves and erect stems bearing flowers with 3 large spreading or pendent fall petals, alternating with 3 erect, often smaller, standard petals, in late winter, spring or early summer
Name status: Unresolved
Plant range: E Turkey, N Iran, Caucasus

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in very well-drained soil, in full sun, and with the top surfaces of the rhizomes exposed so that they get baked in summer sun, which encourages flowering; best grown in a bulb frame or alpine house in containers using gritty, free-draining compost, and kept dry during late summer and winter

Propagation

Propagate by seed, or by division of rhizomes after flowering; for more advice, see dividing irises

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Gravel garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Wall side borders

Pruning

Remove old flower stems after flowering, and any dying foliage

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails and thrips

Diseases

May be susceptible to aphid-borne viruses, bacterial soft rot and grey moulds; see Iris diseases

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