Mail Order Catalogue 2008

Iris Supplement     Iris ensata     Water Iris

We are always dismayed by the lack of interest there is in this country for these beautiful plants.  In America,
Japan and elsewhere they are highly acclaimed and very much sought after, with thousands flocking to the flower fields every year to see the wonderful blooms.  The tradition of Iris growing in Japan goes back several centuries.  They are the easiest of plants to grow, needing no pruning, spraying or staking, and there are varieties for every situation from dry shade to sunny ponds.  The colour range is without parallel, through all colours of the rainbow, including almost black and pure white; and flower size can vary from the very dainty to the huge, nearly a foot- across blooms of some Iris ensata.  If a selection of varieties is chosen you can have flowers from April to late July, and their seed heads are beautiful in the bare Winter months, or can be lovely in dried flower arrangements.

Over the past fifteen years we have been developing a large range of aquatic and damp loving Iris, many
in completely new colour breaks, which, apart from Iris laevigata 'Liam Johns', I. l. 'Richard Greaney' and
I. l.'Violet Garth' (Named after family members), all carry the 'Rowden' prefix.

Iris for Dry or Well Drained Conditions.

Parts of an Iris Flower

IRIS
-  foetidissima.  A most useful plant as it will grow under trees, in chalk, and in virtually any awkward
place! Evergreen swordlike leaves form a clump and although the grey veined flowers are somewhat insignificant it really comes into it's own in Autumn when the seed heads burst open to display vermilion red berries which can last all Winter. 2 ft.  D
-   -   citrina. Larger than the species with pale yellow flowers and vermilion berries. 2 ½ ft.  E
- -   'Variegata'.  A superb foliage plant, grown for it's very striking white and grey-green striped leaves that last all the year round.  2 ft.  G
- lazica. The Crimean/Turkish version of the Algerian iris, I. unguicularis. Quite large pale violet blue flowers
from November to March. Broad shiny evergreen leaves. Well drained sunny to half shade positions. 1 ft.  E

Irises that Prefer Moist or Wet soil
IRIS
- chrysographes 'Black Form'. These need deep moist lime free soil and don't like being disturbed.  This form  is a real show stopper with it's many velvety black flowers in June and July.
Clumps of grassy leaves. 1 ½ ft. E
- -   'Rubella'.  Slightly taller than above with dark claret flowers and golden pencilling on the falls. 2 ½ ft.  E
-      graminea.  Dense clumps of dark green grassy leaves in which nestle the most amazing flowers.  Purple blue with rose and violet overtones they have the strong perfume of warm plums.  Only 1 ft tall they are ideal for the rockery, but need a moisture retentive soil in full sun.  D

IRIS
- sibirica. These irises are grossly underrated but few sights can surpass a massed planting of them in June, when the profuse flowers encompass hues from white through all shades of blue to deepest purple. Forming large grassy leaved clumps they prefer damp acid soil but will accommodate quite boggy
conditions, or even ordinary herbaceous soil, providing it is humus rich and never dries out.  It is quite wrongly frequently sold as a water iris but it will either drown and die, or rot in a harsh Winter.
- - The glorious mid blue species itself.  3 ft.  D
- -'Butter and Sugar'.  Clear primrose yellow throughout. Very different. 2 ½ ft.  D
- -'Caesar'.  Small dainty flower, royal blue falls with large white signal. Very upright standards, style pale
pinky blue. Flowers before most of the others. 2 ½ ft.  D
- -'Dance Ballerina Dance'.  Huge flowers of deep Parma Violet with a very narrow white edge to the falls.
Standards white and broad, styles grey white. A most striking plant. 3ft.  E
- -'Ewen'.  Very large brilliant puce purple falls with a broad white signal. Tawny at the throat. Standards and
styles are the same colour as the falls.  Strong grower. 3 ft.  E
- -'Emperor'.  Very tall, deep royal blue, one of Amos Perry's best introductions.  Strong grower. 3 ft.  E
- -'Helen Astor'. Dark fuchsia pink throughout. Smaller in every respect than 'Ewen'. 2 ft.  D
- -'Marcus Perry'. A very old variety with large flowers.  Mid sky blue falls with distinct golden tawny signal
and throat. Standards mid blue, styles pale cambridge blue. One of the lovliest. 3 ft.  E
- -'Mrs Rowe'. Ethereal palest lilac grey throughout. Another old and reliable variety. Early flowering. 3 ft.  E
- -'Ottawa'.  Deep purply royal blue, very large white signal on rounded falls. Standards and styles the same
colour as the falls. Flower comparatively large.  2 ft.  D
- -'Perry's Favourite'. Mid blue falls, small white signal, standards and styles slightly paler blue. 3 ft.  E
- -'Perry's Pygmy'. Light royal blue, small white signal with a pale yellow centre. Standards and style the same colour as the falls. 2 ft.  E
- -'Pink Haze'.  Deep pink lilac falls, standard same colour. Style whitey blue with blue tinged edges. 3 ft  E
- -'Silver Edge'.  Very large deepest sky blue. Flared and rounded falls. distinctly edged white. Standards large, broad, and darker blue. Style cambridge blue. 3 ft.  E
- -'Sky Wings'.  Pale sky blue throughout, but with a pale yellow signal on the falls. 2 ½ ft.  E
- -'Snow Queen'.  Strong pure white with a very marked chrome yellow signal. 2 ½ ft.  E
- -'Southcombe White'.  Papery almost translucent white with mauvy tinge at the throat. Long narrow white
standards, styles the same colour. 3 ft.  E