This iris from Algeria is a fabulous Mediterranean plant to have in your garden due to its bloom time, flowering from late fall to early spring, when so few other flowers do. You will enjoy these sweetly scented flowers which are lavender to deep violet in colour, in the garden or as cut flowers in your home. The plant forms a dense clump of evergreen grassy foliage of dark green narrow, tough leaves, best planted as individual clumps or in rows of clumps. This grassy clump appearance makes it especially suitable for Mediterranean or Native style gardens. Being waterwise and sun tough, it can cope in Australia's harsh climate, even along side walks, driveways and against walls. However - as with most plants in Adelaide - the best results are usually seen when sheltered from the harsh afternoon sun, or when planted in the dappled shade of a tree.
Algerian iris (10 violet)
Plant name
Plant family - Iris
Botanical name - Iris unguicularis
Common name - Algerian Iris, Algerian Winter Iris, Winter Iris, Iris Stylosa
Main cultivars - Mary Barnard (violet), Walter Butt (pale silver), Alba (white)
Plant description
Plant type - Evergreen rhizomatous perennial
Plant size - In clumps 45cm wide and tall
Leaves - Evergreen dark green narrow leaves
Flowers - Flower from late fall to early spring. Sweetly scented, lavender to deep violet in colour, up to 5-8cm wide
Plant requirements
Spacing - Space clumps 45 cm centre to centre or more apart
Sun or shade - Full sun to dapple shade (preferably)
Water needs - Low, however do not let it dry out completely
Soil - Well drained dry alkaline or neutral soil, will grow in loam, clay and sand
Tolerance - Rabbits, drought
Pests - Snails and slugs5
Maintenance - Low. Cut back leaves before flowering commence (preferably), or after flowering. Propagate by division from midsummer to fall. Do not disturb unnecessary, this plant resents being disturbed.
Feeding - Annual lite sprinkling of blood and bone, before winter flowering commence. (Beginning of the rainy season.)
Garden and home
Uses - Plant in garden against banks and slopes. Beds and borders. Against walls in sun. Patio and container. Fresh cut flowers
Style - City, courtyard, coastal, informal, cottage, Mediterranean
Consumption
As a rule, all plants including their flowers, seeds, roots and foliage must be considered unfit for human and pet consumption except if they are commonly known to be fit for consumption.