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[2nd Image]
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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Iridaceae (Irises) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Blue |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Synonyms: [Witsenia corymbosa] |
| Height: 2-6 feet |
| Width: 3-5 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Nivenia corymbosa (Woody Iris) - An attractive shrubby Iris from the Cape of South Afica. This unusual plant has typical iris-like foliage, with fans of 8 to 12 narrow 4 to 8 inch long sword-shaped leaves but these are borne at the woody branch tips of a shrub growing 2 to 6 feet tall with the slim, above-ground woody stems arising from a thicker caudex. In mid to late summer appear terminal flat-topped clusters (corymbs) of white-throated gentian-blue flowers. The species has a fairly restricted range, growing along wet seeps and streams in the otherwise hot and summer dry environment of the the western Cape mountains and based on this it would seem best to plant this Nivenia in moist, moderately well-drained neutral to slightly acidic soil though plants are reported as surviving for several years in alkaline clay soils. Plant in full sun to light shade - the sunnier the spot the more flowers. Water regularly in summer or plant at the edge of the pond. Hardiness data is somewhat lacking but the plant is noted as surviving in Devon, England so it is likely able to tolerate moderately cold temperatures. This plant belongs to a group of plants known as the woody iris and such is their peculiarity that a book was written about the group. This book by Peter Goldblatt, curator of African Botany at the St. Louis Botanic Garden, is titled "The Woody Iridaceae: Nivenia, Klattia & Witsenia" and in it Mr. Goldblatt describes the initial discovery of Nivenia corymbosa in Africa by Kew garden collector Francis Mason and the cultivation of plants from seed that Scottish botanical collector James Niven (1776-1827) sent back to England. Niven's plants flowered in 1805 and were used in the description and artwork in Curtis Botanical Magazine as Witsenia corymbosa but was later described as Nivenia corymbosa. Love this plant but we found it too difficult to keep looking good in our nursery conditions.
This information about Nivenia corymbosa displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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