A jewel of early spring, Iris reticulata brings a splash of vivid color when little else is awake in the garden. This diminutive bulbous iris is native to the rocky hillsides and meadows of the Caucasus, Turkey, and Iran, and thrives in well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. Its intricate, fragrant flowers appear in late winter to early spring, often pushing up through the last snows, in shades of deep violet-blue to purple, with a central yellow or white signal on the falls that adds striking contrast. The narrow, grass-like foliage follows the blooms and fades by early summer as the bulb goes dormant. Portland plant collector Dan Pogust once told me he thought the blooms smelled like a mall shoe store and I have to admit he wasn’t wrong. I never thought to smell these but once I did I was taken back to the shoe section of Fred Meyers where we would get our back to school shoes every late August, and my mom would always get them a size too big so we could grow into them.
Ideal for rock gardens, troughs, raised beds, or tucked into the front of borders, Iris reticulata is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8 and prefers dry summer conditions, making it perfect for Mediterranean-style plantings. Its delicate appearance belies its rugged nature, and once established, it naturalizes beautifully, rewarding with a reliable annual display
A jewel of early spring, Iris reticulata brings a splash of vivid color when little else is awake in the garden. This diminutive bulbous iris is native to the rocky hillsides and meadows of the Caucasus, Turkey, and Iran, and thrives in well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. Its intricate, fragrant flowers appear in late winter to early spring, often pushing up through the last snows, in shades of deep violet-blue to purple, with a central yellow or white signal on the falls that adds striking contrast. The narrow, grass-like foliage follows the blooms and fades by early summer as the bulb goes dormant. Portland plant collector Dan Pogust once told me he thought the blooms smelled like a mall shoe store and I have to admit he wasn’t wrong. I never thought to smell these but once I did I was taken back to the shoe section of Fred Meyers where we would get our back to school shoes every late August, and my mom would always get them a size too big so we could grow into them.
Ideal for rock gardens, troughs, raised beds, or tucked into the front of borders, Iris reticulata is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8 and prefers dry summer conditions, making it perfect for Mediterranean-style plantings. Its delicate appearance belies its rugged nature, and once established, it naturalizes beautifully, rewarding with a reliable annual display
