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Iris (miscellaneous beardless)
iris

- Height 9-30 in (23-75 cm)
- Planting distance 1-11/2 ft (30-45 cm)
- Flowers early summer or midfall to midspring
- Moist, humus-rich or well-drained soil
- Shady or sunny site
- Rhizomes available spring
- Hardy zones 5-9

Some other beardless rhizomatous irises have a distinctive character, which makes them well worth considering.

Popular species and cultivars
Iris foetidissima (striking iris, or gladwin is renowned for its seed-pods, which split open and peel back to reveal striking scarlet seeds in fall. These are far more attractive than the insignificant pale purple flowers that appear in early summer. The plants stand 21/2 ft (75 cm) high and give off a rank smell when bruised. Several forms are available: I. foetidissima lutea has yellow flowers with brown veining and orange-red seeds, and 'Variegata' has attractive variegated leaves. Iris unguicularis (syn. I. stylosa), sometimes called the Alegerian iris, may bloom in November and flower through the winter in zone 9; elsewhere it blooms in early spring. The flowers are soft lavender or lilac, marked by a yellow blaze on the falls. The plants are 9 in (23 cm) high with dark green evergreen foliage.

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