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Iris monnieri (Iris of Rhodes) - This herbaceous perennial beardless flag iris rises up on sturdy rich green stems with 2- to 3-foot-long narrow leaves with flowering stems to 4 to 5 feet in late spring that hold lightly fragrant rich yellow flowers that have strongly recurved broad wavy outer petals (falls) and upright narrow inside petals (flags) . It is rhizomatous and can form large solid stands.
Plant in full sun and water occasionally to very little - more regular irrigation yields taller plants and more flowers but even infrequently watered plants thrive and bloom. Hardy to at least 10 F and likely lower. This easy-care iris has long been grown in the southern and the southwestern United States but is rarely identified. It has long been called the Iris of Rhodes but may actually be an early sport or hybrid of Iris orientalis.
This plant was passed on to us as a yellow flag iris in 1980 and we have been cultivating it our garden ever since and offered it up for sale from 2008 until 2011.
The information about Iris monnieri displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include 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 we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
