Iberis saxitilis ...................... PRICE 1@ $6.50

This is the best bunch of saxitilis seedlings we have had in several years, nice compact plants we would select a clone to name if only we could make up our mind which one.

 

IBERIS SEMPERVIRENS ‘ALEXANDER’S WHITE ‘     PRICE 1@ $8.00

A larger cultivar, it is at least as good as snowflake and possibly better.

 

Iberis sempervirens compactum PRICE 1@ $6.50

As you might expect this is a dwarf form that may well have some saxitilis in its background, its Dick’s favorite dwarf candytuft.

 

Iberis sempervirens pygmaea PRICE 1@ $8.00

Another almost prostrate clone only 2" high, with pure white flowers, blooms earlier than sempervirens and like the species tends to re-bloom in the fall.

 

IBERIS SEMPERVIRENS ‘SNOWFLAKE’ PRICE 1@ $6.50

The standard by which the larger clones are judged, foot high evergreen shrublets, perfect for shearing into low formal hedges, abundant clusters of snow-white flowers.

 

Imperata cylendraica 'Red Baron' PRICE 1@ $12.00

The well-known Japanese Blood grass, its hardy but can take quite a beating during a hard winter and is probably better a bit south of us, but for a perennial grass in that color range, nothing else even comes close.

 

Incarvillea olgae .............. PRICE 1@ $6.50

Looking a bit like an enlarged arguta, it is much hardier, but not as free with its pink trumpets. This is the most permanent Incarvillea in our gardens.

 

Incarvillea zhongdianensis Price   $8.00

Spectacular, this is by far my favorite of the mairei like types, crimson-magenta Deep-Throated Lovelace flowers with white guidelines pointing to the sexy yellow throats. (Pollinated by massive bees that are a bit slow when it comes to oral sex).

 

Inula candida verbascifolia PRICE 1@ $6.50

The A.G.S encyclopedia considers this to be Inula verbascifolia, somewhat taller than candida and covered with wooly not silky hairs, whatever your taxonomic preference this is a nice little Creten (that sounds wrong, it is from Crete not a moron) composite.

 

Ipomea leptophylla ............ Price   $12.00

Manroot, it's a bush Morning Glory with edible roots that weigh a couple hundred pounds at maturity and beautiful violet magenta funnelform flowers that cover the bushy non-climbing plants. It needs dry soils; it's also the host plant for the largest species of clearwing borer in the U.S. Lepidopterists will beg you for a specimen of one of these.

 

IRIS

A genus of 250 plus species running the gamut from aquatics to desert bulbs, there is so much diversity that general comments are meaningless. I would urge gardeners to sample a few plants from the various sections of the genus, most only grew a few bearded hybrids or Siberians and there are so many garden worthy plants that are never even attempted. This season we have a fantastic selection of west coast species thanks to Ron Ratko’s untiring efforts and generosity. The Czechs too have collected some wonderful new things. Don’t be too intimidated by European pronouncements concerning the growability of various species, a friend and local grower, Brian Radford is growing a wide selection of Oncocyclus species with considerable success outdoors, despite what the pundits might say. If Onco’s are possible, the rest should be effortless.

 

IRIS pacific coast HYBRIDS PRICE 1@ $6.50

A mix of hybrids from the series californicae with flat flowers and usually evergreen clumps of leaves, they seem to prefer acid sandy soils and are borderline hardy here although they usually make it.

 

Iris aphylla ............................. PRICE 1@ $6.50

An unusual species ranging from the Caucasus into Eastern Europe, it is distinct in its section being the only member that goes completely leafless in winter, flowers are typically in some shade of blue or purple.

 

IRIS ATTICA (PUMILA ATTICA) Price   $8.00

A tiny bearded species native to Western Turkey, Greece, and Southern Yugoslavia, it dislikes winter wet, in our form, the 4.5cm solitary flowers are purple, and almost Onco-like, held on 5-10cm stems, arising in early spring between the strongly falcate leaves.

 

Iris bracteata ....................... PRICE 1@ $6.50

Easily distinguished by the bract like leaves on the flowering stems, this west coast species is often encountered in pine forests in the Siskiyou Mts. flower color is generally yellow veined with reddish purple

 

Iris bracteata x thompsonii Price   $8.00

Ron’s collections from the Siskiyou Mountains on shaded banks in Douglas Fir-Incense Cedar woodland; this colony contained pale yellow, blue, and lilac colors as well as many bicolored forms.

 

Iris california hyb ............ PRICE 1@ $6.50

Hybrids with some of the West Coast species could turn out to be nice -who knows.

 

Iris chrysophylla 00-432 ... Price   $8.00

Ron’s collection from partially shaded gravely banks in the cascades; where it forms large clumps of graceful arching grassy leaves beset with spikes bearing elegant creamy flowers with a yellow signal and delicate purplish brown veining.

 

Iris confusa ............................ PRICE 1@ $6.50

Wild collected in China, like so much of what comes out of China the name is open for debate; these flowered for the first time in 2003 and created quite a stir here, flat white flowers intricately marked with blue blotching and speckling, it seems fairly growable and is definitely exotic looking.

 

IRIS CRETENSIS ........................ PRICE 1@ $6.50

in the wild, it is found on grassy alpine meadows; leaves are small narrow and upright, flowers violet with yellow veination. native to Crete and on the tender side, it is a winter bloomer in the alpine house. ours survived -29f in an unheated polyhouse last winter - reports of tenderness may be premature.

 

IRIS CRISTATA ........................... PRICE 1@ $6.50

Cute dwarf Iris with multitudes of the rarest crumpled powder blue flowers crested with gold on 6" stems; it will form large mats quickly. This easy to grow species has a lot more charm than the bearded monstrosities. 

 

Iris cristata alba Briggs form Price   $12.00

Jim Brought us this as gracilipes alba years ago, we put it in the corner of one of our big troughs and it covered a big chunk if it, everyone who sees it in flower has bugged us for a piece, and we finally got around to propagating it. It's pretty clear that it is a cristata, I couldn't imagine a white lacustris that vigorous.

 

Iris cycloglossa .................... Price   $19.00

A fantastic Juno collected southwest of Herat in Afghanistan by Wendelbo in 1975 in a damp grassy habitat very unusual for a Juno, it is extremely local and endemic only to this one small region. It is also distinct in that it is the only Juno with upright standards. Flowers are blue with a distinctive clove scent, very weird for a Juno, they appear more xiphium-like than Juno; definitely not a plant for beginners.

 

Iris douglasiana .................. PRICE 1@ $6.50

a fairly narrow west coast endemic, often growing right up to the ocean. it hybridizes readily with the other pacific coast species. flower color is variable, white to pink to blue and all shades in between, but often with attractive vein patterns; evergreen, named for Douglas of Douglas fir fame.

 

Iris foetidissima .................. PRICE 1@ $8.00

An interesting plant commonly known as the Gladden or Roast Beef Plant (believe it or not the bruised leaves are supposed to smell like roast beef. Yah right). Foetidissima is cultivated primarily for its attractive orange seeds, the flowers are a typical blue or a creamy white and quite attractive in a species Iris way their scent however is odd and has been compared to Scoliopus bigelovii or disinfectant (it sounds like Cruise Ship food after Norwalk Virus cleanup).

 

IRIS forrestii .......................... PRICE 1@ $6.50

Native of southwest China occurring at up to 4,000m it is in the Siberian-chrysographes section. One of only two yellow flowered species in the group (wilsonii is the other) easy in full sun and moist soils and looks good near ponds has been hybridized with California Iris to create Calisbes.

 

Iris fulva ................................... PRICE 1@ $8.00

A classic Louisiana Iris with unusual coppery orange flowers, it is one of the hardiest of the group and a startling sight in the garden. If you want to try Louisiana Iris in the north, this would be a good starting place, its almost as much fun as gators and Mardi Gras beads, well maybe.

 

Iris gracilipes alba ........ PRICE 1@ $12.00

One of my favorite Iris, we lost this a number of years back and it has taken a while to build up enough stock to offer it once again, 10cm tufts of grassy leaves topped by miniature flat Japanese iris flowers it is small enough for a trough and very cool this is the rare white form.

 

Iris gracilipes Purple . PRICE 1@ $12.00

As above but purple

 

IRIS graminea .......................... PRICE 1@ $6.50

Plum scented Iris, clumps of 8-12" slender leaves, blue violet flowers on 4-8" stems down in the foliage. Tolerates dryness and is suitable for large rock gardens.

 

Iris humilis ............................. PRICE 1@ $15.00

Jurasek’s collections of this dwarf (5-25cm) Aril iris in the section Psammiris, it is taxonomically closest to the Regalia section but quite distinct. Flowers are generally yellow with orange beards on the falls and squat looking standards usually one or two per scape however the plant is rather wide ranging and there are numerous forms that have at times been split off (I. flavissima, I. arenaria, I. pineticola etc). It is somewhat stoloniferus and will clump up if happy, although even Brian Matthew finds it difficult to grow.

 

IRIS illyrica ............................. PRICE 1@ $6.50

From Yugoslavia in the pallida group, a transition species between pallida and cengialti producing attractive satiny blue orange bearded flowers in May; sunny rock gardens.

 

Iris inominata lutea ........ PRICE 1@ $6.50

Innominata is one of the best-known Pacific Coast Iris tolerating sun or light shade but preferring humus rich acid soils. The species is quite variable in color, but obviously, these are yellow forms, easily recognized when out of flower by its very narrow low grassy tufts of foliage.

 

Iris JAPONICUM ....................... PRICE 1@ $6.50

Brigitta and Dick had me convinced at one point that this was tectorum, however it actually is japonicum, flowers are gorgeous intricately marked flat affairs much freer blooming than the variegated form, that extra chlorophyll definitely helps.

 

Iris kaempferi variegata PRICE 1@ $8.00

Variegated form of Japanese Iris, these are not as showy as pallida variegata, the variegation tends to fade out in summer.

 

Iris kaempferi Samurai Arrowheads ... PRICE 1@ $6.50

Our own strain, grown from seed collected from some of the best parents, those with less self-control would already have named a bunch of these.

 

IRIS lactea ................................ PRICE 1@ $6.50

Widespread species occurs all over Asia, flowers usually pale blue 4-6cm across and scented, a modest exceptionally hardy species 15-30cm tall.

 

IRIS LATIFOLIA ........ see Iris xiphioides

 

Iris longipetala      95-297 . Price   $8.00

Ron’s collections east of Point Reyes at 200’ above sea level where it formed large colonies in the wet areas. It’s similar to missouriensis but with larger flowers; pale lavender falls and slightly darker standards. We also offer a second Ratko collection below

 

Iris longipetala      00-438 . Price   $8.00

 

Iris lutescens ...................... PRICE 1@ $6.50

Formerly known as Iris chamaeiris, lutescens comes from rocky dry places in southern Europe, it is quite variable in color with both purple and yellow forms, it is generally quite dwarf and early blooming.

 

iris lutescens campellii PRICE 1@ $6.50

Very dwarf to 15cm, flowers bright violet blue; falls darker, this cute little bearded iris is native from Italy to southern Spain in dry places among rocks.

 

Iris maackii .................................... Price   $8.00

A rare waterside iris from china with fanlike foliage and branched scapes bearing numerous flowers followed by attractive seed heads.

 

Iris macrosiphon ................. PRICE 1@ $6.50

The smallest of the Californica section with sparse 6” tufts of grassy foliage with short-stemmed flowers in an astounding palette of colors, needs an acid soil rich in humus growing in openings in ponderosa pine Douglas fir forests.

 

Iris maritima see IRIS SPURIA MARITIMA

 

Iris mellita Archibald 590.950 PRICE 1@ $8.00

Perhaps the finest of all the Dwarf Bearded Iris, forming mats only a couple inches tall, current taxonomic thinking lumps this with I. suaveolens, however we have retained Jim’s original name and population reference number to avoid confusion.

 

Iris missouriensis rmrp 99-615 Price   $8.00

The section longipetala contains two species missouriensis and longipetala which are variable and not easily separated; this widespread Rocky Mountain Iris is a familiar sight in the West in areas that are vernally wet, it’s a cute little western American wildflower that is under appreciated by Iris fanciers.

 

Iris monnieri ........................... PRICE 1@ $6.50

A beautiful yellow Spuria, monnieri is probably a hybrid between Iris orientalis and Iris xanthospuria both of which are native to Turkey; other authorities believe I. crocea may be involved, whatever it is an excellent garden specimen with an air of mystery about it.

 

iris ORIENTALIS ...................... PRICE 1@ $6.50

Another big spuria related to crocea but not as big, 70cm flowers white with a large central yellow blotch. 

 

iRIS pALLIDA ‘albo VARIEGATA’ PRICE 1@ $8.00

Probably the showiest of the variegated Iris, boldly marked foliage, makes a dramatic accent even when not in bloom, one of the most stunning variegated plants, especially attractive when planted in large drifts.

 

Iris pallida ‘aureo variegata’ PRICE 1@ $12.00

Much less common in gardens the gold edged version provides an elegant contrast to Iris pallida ‘Albo Variegata’, we have been hoarding this for years and have finally built up enough to offer it, depending on its popularity it may not reappear again for several years, it is slow to increase.

 

Iris prismatica alba ......... PRICE 1@ $5.50

doesn’t the name sound enchanting? the actual plants fall a little short of rainbow hues but form runnery mats with clusters of grass-like leaves bearing striking white flowers. reminiscent of a Siberian Iris they have a reputation for being hard to transplant but we have had no problems.

 

Iris pumila ................................. PRICE 1@ $6.50

a very dwarf bearded Iris only 7-15 cm. tall. flowers variable in color; spring and summer flowering, it forms dense mats. flowering freely, these rate high on brigitta’s cute meter.

 

Iris purdyi ................................. PRICE 1@ $8.00

A rather distinctive Pacific Coast species from the redwood forests of northern California the rather flattish flowers are generally cream with purplish pink spotting and veining in the falls and bract like leaves on the scapes.

 

Iris richenbachii .................. PRICE 1@ $6.50

Ex Balkans and similar to suaveolens, flowers yellow to purplish brown with darker veins.

 

IRIS SANGUINEA ....................... PRICE 1@ $5.50

native to japan and Korea and similar to sibirica but shorter; leaves are reed-like, flowers intense blue and larger than those of sibirica. an attractive free blooming very garden worthy plant, I just can’t figure out what the name refers to, its describer must have been colorblind.

 

Iris sanguinea snow queen PRICE 1@ $6.50

White flowered selection of the above

 

IRIS SETOSA BLAULICHT ..... PRICE 1@ $6.50

Bristly Iris is the most northerly ranging Iris, native from Alaska to Eastern Asia; pale blue flowers with deeper blue veining, inner petals reduced to bristles, it prefers a moist soil; Blaulicht is a tall German selection, with especially strong flower color.

 

IRIS SETOSA TRICUSPIS ...... PRICE 1@ $6.50

A taller growing variety from Eastern Canada; more reddish violet than the type.

 

Iris sibirica Arrowhead HYBRIDS PRICE 1@ $6.50

Plants from our own breeding projects, these are nice looking typical Siberians.

 

Iris sibirica ex 'Ottawa' . PRICE 1@ $6.50

Seed grown from a popular named hybrid, these have been quite popular here at the nursery.

 

Iris sintensii ........................... PRICE 1@ $6.50

A slender Spuria from the Balkans where it grows in dry scrub, it has a tufted habit and is only 10-30cm high when in flower; the color appears an almost metallic deep violet-blue from a distance, with white falls so heavily veined with violet it obscures their true nature.

 

IRIS SPURIA ................................. PRICE 1@ $6.50

The Butterfly Iris, a wide ranging complex species ranging from Sweden to Central Spain; they like a warm site and moisture during the growing season, but dry during flowering. Coloration is quite variable spurias are heavy feeders and enjoy some manure.

 

IRIS SPURIA MARITIMA ......... PRICE 1@ $6.50

a lower growing subspecies 10-12" with red blue to violet purple flowers, as you might guess from the name maritima is native to coastal France.

 

IRIS SPURIA MUSULMANICA PRICE 1@ $6.50

a poorly defined subspecies, it seems to be a catchall for forms that don’t seem to belong anywhere else, but still contains some very attractive plants.

 

IRIS SPURIA HYB. ..................... PRICE 1@ $6.50

Seedlings from a range of the better garden hybrids; these should produce some nice forms, the color spectrum is nearly as wide as the bearded’s; bloom starts in June after the tall bearded's and lasts into July.

 

Iris suaveolens v. rubromarginata PRICE 1@ $8.00

Its true the leaves are margined in red however this feature does not stand out, the edging is quite fine, on the other hand the plant habit and flowers are spectacular, edge or no edge it is a fantastic Dwarf Bearded Iris, not to be confused with the hybrid crap normally sold as Dwarf Bearded Iris.

 

Iris subbiflora ..................... PRICE 1@ $8.00

A beautiful dwarf bearded species native to southern Portugal and Andalusia that is closely related to Iris lutescens, after several years of carefully building stock we finally have enough to offer.

 

Iris tectorum album ........ PRICE 1@ $6.50

The roof iris formerly found growing on thatched roofs in china and japan. Its 16-20" with 4" fluttery flowers, white in color, the outer petals with dark veins and pure white delicately frilled crests. plants are exotic in appearance and prefer a slightly acid soil. It is one of the loveliest irises.

 

Iris tectorum blue ........... PRICE 1@ $6.50

As above but the normal blue flowered wild type.

 

Iris tenax ................................... PRICE 1@ $8.00

This may be the most cold tolerant of any of the West Coast Iris. Small clumps of grassy leaves blend right into the windswept grassy subalpine slopes; flowers vary from lavender to violet all with a white blotch central yellow stripe and veining on the falls.

 

Iris tenax var. tenax 00-448 PRICE 1@ $8.00

Collected from Silver Star Mountain in the Cascades, The small clumps of grassy leaves are hard to see on this windswept alpine slope until the rainbow of flowers appears. Color is quite variable with rose, lavender, lilac and pale violet forms in attendance, all having a white blotch and a central yellow stripe, the very broad falls are inevitably veined with purple. Other collections listed below.

 

Iris tenax var. tenax 00-449 PRICE 1@ $8.00

 

Iris tenax var. tenax 00-450 PRICE 1@ $8.00

 

Iris thompsonii Ratko 00-457 . Price   $8.00

The elusive blue innominata (the taxonomic status of thompsonii is a bit tenuous), dark blue flowers veined even darker blue with a white signal patch, these are from steep shaded embankments in a mixed conifer forest near the middle fork of the Smith River in the Siskiyou Mountains.

 

Iris unguicularis................. PRICE 1@ $8.00

Marion Jarvie gave us this blue form a few years back, a winter blooming species, native to North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean on rocky hills, this well known species was formerly called Iris stylosa.

 

Iris variegata ........................ PRICE 1@ $8.00

A very distinct and dramatically colored bearded Iris that is not, in fact variegated. Over the years it has gone by a number of different names including I. rudskyi, i. reginae, I. lepida, I. leucographa, I. mangaliae, I. dragalz and Iris virescens; the flowers which sit atop 20-45cm scapes are conspicuously bicolored with yellow standards and whitish falls heavily veined reddish brown or violet.

 

Iris verna ................................... PRICE 1@ $6.50

A unique species it is the only member of its section, an attractive plant only 4-6cm high in bloom. Flowers are bright blue with an orange stripe on the falls its native to open acid woodlands in the Southeastern U.S.

 

Iris virginiana ........................ PRICE 1@ $6.50

Eastern American moisture loving species similar to brevicaulis but more stout in all respects, to 3' tall strong creeping rhizomes Lilac flowers in the leaf axils.

 

Iris wattii I-16 2000 ................ PRICE 1@ $6.50

Wild out of China this huge Evansiana can reach 2m if happy, although I doubt it will ever approach that here, flowers are similar to confusa but larger with falls that hang vertically, it apparently also hybridizes with I. confusa leading to much confusion, I know I’m thoroughly dazed and confused.

 

Iris xiphioides (latifolia) PRICE 1@ $6.50

The well-known English Iris; a widely grown bulbous species, it is showy and easy.

 

Iris xiphium ............................... PRICE 1@ $6.50

Spanish Iris, bulbous, 40-60cm tall; hybridized with tingitana to form the Dutch Iris,