ORNAMENTAL PLANTS OF HORTICULTURE VALUE

Selection of perennials

This genus is a split from the genus Iris L. and the species are frequently retained in Iris. There are about 46 species. In the FSU 31 species are reported. They occur mainly in Central Asia and also in the Caucasus. Most of them are new to cultivation ( marked by *). In the list given below, the Latin name, height, size, colour and the blooming period are given. Many species have been studied in St. Petersburg, but only a few did well in that climate. Among those adapted to regions belonging to zones 5 and 4, with winter protection, are:

*J. almaatensis Pavl., 15-20 cm, 7-9 cm, yellow. May. New.
*J. bucharica (Foster) Vved., 15-30 cm, 6-7 cm, yellow. May.
J. magnifica (Vved.) Vved., 25-40 cm, 5-7 cm, violet-white. May.
*J. narynensis (O. Fedtsch.) Vved, 3-7 cm, 3-5 cm violet. May. New.
*J. nicolai Vved., 15-20 cm, 5-7 cm, pink-violet. April. New.
J. vicaria Vved., 20-50 cm, 5-6 cm, pale-blue, white-cream. May.
J. warleyensis (Foster) Vved., 20-30 cm, 5-6 cm, violet. May.

The following species have been studied in various botanical gardens in the FSU. They can be successfully grown in zones 6, 7, etc.

J. caucasica (Hoffm.) Klatt, 10-25 cm, 3-5 cm, yellow-orange. March.
*J. coerulea Poljak., 5-7 cm, 5-7 cm, blue. April.
*J. kuschakewiczii (B. Fedtsch.) Poljak., 3-5 cm, 3-5 cm, lilac. March. New.
*J. linifolia (Regel) Vved., 10-15 cm, 5-7 cm, yellow. April. New.
J. orchioides (Carr.) Vved., 15-30 cm, 3-6 cm, pale-yellow. April.
*J. rosenbachiana (Regel) Vved., 5-7 cm, 5-8 cm, violet. April. New.
J. tubergeniana (Foster) Vved., 10-15 cm, 5-7 cm, yellow April.
J. willmottiana (Foster) Vved., 10-20 cm, 5-7 cm, white-violet. April.

All are very attractive. In nature they start to grow in February or March, and come into flower in March or April. In St. Petersburg they bloom in April and May. Propagation by seed and by division. The fleshy roots which are developed by the bulbs can be removed and because each of them has a bud, they can form a new plant. All require a well-drained soil.