Iris foetidissima (Stinking Iris, Stinking Gladwin, Gladwin Iris, Coral Iris)
Botanical Information
| Family | Iridaceae |
| Genus | Iris |
| Species | foetidissima |
| Category | Bulbs, Perennials |
| Origin | Western Europe, including England, Ireland, France, north Africa, Italy and Greece. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 7b - 8a |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 7 |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H5 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -15 - (-9) |
| Temperature (°F) | 5 - 15 |
| Height | 30 - 60 cm |
| Spread | 30 - 45 cm |
| Growth | Fast |
| Flowering Period | May, June |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | Iris foetidissima is a rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial with long sword-shaped leaves, scrawny-looking flowers on tall stalks and attractive crimson seed capsules. |
| ID Characteristic | Showy seed capsules containing brightly coloured seeds split open in winter. |
| Landscape | Good for any shady location. |
| Cultivation | Grow in full sun to part shade, in moist, well-draining, humusy soil. Tolerant of some drought once established. Plants are slow to establish and may take two or three years to produce quality seed displays. |
| Pests | No serious pests or diseases of note. |
| Habitat | Open woodland, sea-cliffs, hedges and banks. |
| Leaf Description | Dark green, narrow, sword-shaped, up to 2.5 - 0.6 m giving off an unpleasant smell when cut or bruised. |
| Flower Description | Long, beardless, white falls with dark purple venation; bi-lobed, lilac standards also elongated; styles have narrow arms and yellow-tinged crests; scape rises 0.25 - 0.6 m tall. |
| Fruit Description | Capsules split open in early autumn, revealing stringy clusters of crimson seeds. These often last well into winter and dry well. |
Photographs
Flower
Form
Scanning electron microscope image of pollen grain.
Awards
