Iris filifolia

Family: Iridaceae

What it is like

Iris filifolia is a BULB growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in). It is in leaf from October to July, in flower in June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 0.5

Where it is found

Sandy and limestone soils in dry rocky places.

S.W. Europe to N. Africa.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

Bulb - cooked. Used as a vegetable.

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating:

How it is grown

Prefers a sunny position. Requires a well-drained soil and needs to be kept dry in summer. Established plants are drought tolerant. Plants are best grown in a cold frame in Britain to protect them from summer damp. Bulbs should be planted 7 - 10cm deep and will require feeding after they have flowered. The leaves appear in the autumn and require protection from severe frosts. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits.

Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first year. Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Division, best done after flowering. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds; East Wall. In. West Wall. In.

Habit: Bulb

Hardiness:

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Many plants in this genus are thought to be poisonous if ingested, so caution is advised. The roots are especially likely to be toxic. Plants can cause skin irritations and allergies in some people.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

I. juncea.