The Iris
Iris Germanica.
IRIS was the daughter of Thaumas and Electra, and her office was that of messenger to Juno. Therefore it is that in the "Iliad" and the "AEneid" this "lady of colour" has important business to transact, and, as a matter of course, her traffic between heaven and earth is facilitated by that prehistoric railroad and aerial bridge, the "bow bent in the sky," resplendent with in-numerable tints. The hues of the rainbow are seen in the human eye, for in truth the bow is there-- "Bespeaking our fears, dissolving in tears, And looking to heaven through colours of love."
Hence the eye, which is the sole source of our knowledge of colour, is the symbol of Iris, and the flower before us derives its name from the variety and splendour of its painting, and is, as our cousins of the West might say, a genuine "eye-opener" when summer has renewed the beauty of its bloom. The common iris, or "flag," is Iris Germanica. This is well known by its distinct sabre-shaped leaves and noble blue flowers. It may be seen everywhere in London gardens, and yet where a London garden is managed in first-rate style, it cannot be counted among the most desirable plants for it. But we have now to do with its intrinsic merit, which is known to all. Given an ample range of border enclosing a croquet or bowling-green, or a free range of woodland walks, and we have a suitable domain for a collection of varieties of German iris, of which there are about fifty in cultivation. These present us with all possible colours save pure yellow and pure scarlet. They are wonderful in shades of blue, purple, lilac, lavender, brown, orange, buff, and pearly grey, put on in blotches, patches, circles, spots, marginal lines, and delicate pencillings. Any garden would be rich with a collection of these, and to examine and criticise them when in flower would afford many a summer day's delight. Any good deep garden soil will suit the German iris. Another remarkable section of the family is that known to botanists as Iris loevigata, but in gardens denominated Iris Koempferi. This species has been for centuries cultivated by the Japanese, and the best of their varieties have been subjected to comparison and improvement in Holland and Germany, and one result is that the named sorts now available for the English garden are as worthy of a place in it as any hardy plants known. They differ from all other irises in the size of the flowers as compared with the leaves, the large lobes of the flowers, and the predominance of rich deep hues of crimson and purple with other colours amongst them. A rich deep soil and an open situation are requisite to ensure a good growth of Iris Koempferi, and it thrives best in open beds.
A third section comprises those known in gardens as Crimean irises, Iris pumila. These are of dwarf growth; they flower freely, and are very gay, while their neatness of habit fits them for edging flower-beds, and of course they would be appropriate to give a finish to beds containing the larger and grander varieties. The colours that prevail amongst these dwarf irises are purple, dark blue, pale blue, straw-yellow, and white. They will thrive in any soil, but attain to their fullest perfection in a rather dry, deep sandy loam or sandy peat. They have increased and flowered freely on our heavy, damp clay, and therefore we are not afraid to say that any soil will suit them. It is proper now to remark upon a few species that are calculated to afford much entertainment to the amateur of hardy plants, and it is the more desirable to mention them in this notice, because they are at once cheap, beautiful, interesting, and but little known beyond the narrow circle of advanced florists and horticultural botanists. Iris cristata comes near to the Crimean iris in general characters; the flowers are blue, with deeper blue spots, and wavy ribs, or "crests," tinted yellow and orange. Iris Florentina may be added to the Germanic group as nearly related to them; the flowers are white, with a blue tinge and a yellow beard, agreeably fragrant. Iris foetidissima has a bad name, but it is a fine plant, bearing lead-coloured or dull yellow flowers, which are succeeded by clusters of scarlet berries, that are very useful in Christmas decorations. A damp situation suits this plant. The variegated-leaved variety is one of the handsomest plants of its class in cultivation. Iris iberica is a remarkable plant, with immense dark flowers, superbly streaked, veined, and spotted. This is scarce at present, and may be advantageously grown in pots as a frame plant. It is, however, hardy enough for a dry, warm nook in the rock garden. Iris Monnieri is a grand plant, with fragrant yellow flowers. It requires a rich, deep, moist soil, and a warm situation. Iris pallida is distinct and fine; the flowers are pale blue, with pale yellow beard; it will thrive in almost any soil and situation, and may be classed with the German irises. Iris pseudacorus is the common English water-flag, a truly noble species, which adorns with its golden banners many a broad river and sluggish meadow stream. It is worth a place in the woodland border, and the variegated-leaved variety is a good garden plant. Iris reticulata is an exquisite gem, with narrow, rush-like leaves, and flowers plentifully produced, the colours rich violet-purple, strongly stamped in the centre with deep rich gold. The extreme elegance and fragrance of the flowers, and the tendency of the plant to suffer from damp, render it desirable to treat this as a pot-plant.
