Origin of Apogon Iris
Dottie Weissenberger
Beginning with the iris, that genus of plants which perpetuates the name of the Greek Goddess of the rainbow should at least keep your interest in the Far East where much of it is centered just now. Do you recall the Biblical mother who built an ark of bullrushes for her baby and hid it among the FLAGS on the river Nile?
When you hear of some new Iris introduction and note that this variety has Mesopotamic blood in it, that simply means that some of the blood of that wild Flag of the Nile is still in it, and it is this blood which gives to the bearded Iris its tall bloom stalk and large individual blooms. Those old varieties which grew in our grandmother's gardens, the blue, the very pale yellow and the old gray white from which they made their tooth powder and cosmetics, were all natives of Europe.
Sir Michael Foster began the scientific breeding of Iris in the 1880's. Missionaries from Asian Minor sent him some newly discovered species, and crossing these with plants from Italy he produced totally new types with taller stems and larger flowers. Foster's work was but the beginning of intensive scientific work. One breeder forced late-blooming Iris of the European mountains and produced a race of Intermediates, which greatly increased the Iris flowering season. Others produced new combinations of color, different forms of flower, different habits of branching. W.R. Dykes, who later became secretary of the Royal Horticultural Society, was Foster's outstanding pupil. He secured seeds from all over the world, raised plants and compared them with dried herbarius specimens. Ultimately he wrote the "The Genus Iris", a great monograph which brought order out of chaos. This book laid the foundation for all future studies. Between 1900 and 1920 he and other breeders in England, France and Germany raised and introduced some hundreds of greatly improved varieties.
In the United States during that same period, Bertrand H. Farr began his work and introduced his famous varieties in 1909. As in the case of Foster, Farr's example was immediately followed by others, two of the first and best-known being Grace Sturtevant of Massachusetts and E.B. Williamson of Indiana. New varieties still are being constantly tested and offered for sale. Because of this it is often difficult for a gardener to know exactly what to order. Ordinary catalogues carry only a few names and these are listed mainly by color. The catalogues of specialists, on the other hand, contain so many names that they are hopelessly confusing. The American Iris Society, formed in 1920, can be of great help to the gardener, for it is working to simplify the lists, remove duplicates and undesirable varieties, and promote high quality. Anyone willing to go further into the fascinating pursuit of raising Iris would do well to join the Society.
Botanically, there are many species of Iris, but from the gardener's standpoint they may be divided into four groups: Bearded (or Pogons), Beardless (Apogons), Bulbous, and a convenient one called Miscellaneous.
The Beardless Iris (or Apogons) are fibrous-rooted, moisture-loving, with narrow grass-like green leaves. From the gardener's standpoint they are not so important as the Bearded Iris yet they are very valuable both in mixed borders and for naturalizing. Many will grow in apparently dry situations if they have abundant moisture in Spring.
In early May come the Siberian Iris. The flat, open flowers are held on tall slender stems and are so prolific that each good sized clump makes a strong effect. These Iris come in white and various shades of blue (editors note: and now in reddish and yellow, too) and range in height from two to four feet. They do well naturalized near streams or in open meadows, but will grow under ordinary garden conditions. They should be planted in spring and divided when the clumps become too big. The outstanding varieties are "Snow Queen", "Perrys Blue", "Skylark", "Emperor" and "Caesar". Siberian Iris can be grown easily from seed.
In July come the magnificent Japanese Iris. These have been grown for centuries in Japan and are the results of hybridizing two wild types, white and magenta. There are today flowers of white, lavender, deep purple, blue, lavender-pink and every shade in between. Japanese Iris like moisture and respond to feeding, but they have lately been attacked by a disease about which there is little definite information. Good culture seems to be a preventative. The best method seems to be to give these plants rich soil (with plenty of cow manure if possible) and artificial moisture from early spring until July, when they should be allowed to dry out. They should be well mulched during the winter. Japanese Iris have many names varieties, but there is great confusion about them. The best plan is to buy them by color or grow them from seed, which should be planted as soon as it is ripe. The flowers will bloom a year from the following spring.
Two Beardless Iris that grow and bloom along streams or in bogs are I. pseudacorus, the wild yellow of England and France, and I. versicolor, the blue-purple Iris that grows wild from New Brunswick to Georgia. There is also a cream-yellow form of pseudacorus, often called white, that is very beautiful. These will also grow in well-drained soil.
Spuria hybrids are much like the Siberians, but far more delicate. They have a wider range of color, but have never been so popular in gardens. They like rich soil, should be planted in Oklahoma in late summer or early fall and are easily grown from seed.
The species graminea, one and one-half feet high, is not remarkable for its lilac colored flower, but is worth growing for its good fragrance. I. fulva and foliosa are two other species native to the southern states. The first has blue-lavender flowers that are carried on low stems. The second is a most unusual color, a bright terra cotta. Some of the hybrids made by crossing these two are outstanding plants, best know for being the beautiful and distinctive "Dorothy K. Williamson", a rich purple borne on angular stems. It blooms in late June.
I. unquicularis (stylosa) is an Algerian species that blooms in January or February. It is not hardy north of Washington, DC, but in the south it is well worth growing. It is about two feet high, has white or lilac flowers and is fragrant.
Hybridizing Iris is not too difficult for the amateur. Pollen from the stamens of one variety is transferred to the stigma of another variety. When the seed pods are yellowing they should be picked and dried. The seed can be planted in the autumn and will probably germinate the following spring. The amateur is not apt to raise varieties of exceptional interest, but it is an interesting and delightful hobby.
Sources: National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc.
"Woman's Home Companion Garden Book" - John C. Wister
(Reprinted from Sooner State Iris News, May 1974)