Iris willmottiana

Iris willmottiana is a species in the genus Iris, in the subgenus Scorpiris. It is a bulbous perennial.

It was collected from Bokhara in Eastern Turkestan in 1899, by a plant collector on behalf of the Van Tubergen nurseries in Haarlem, the Netherlands.<ref>Audrey Le Lièvre Template:Google books</ref> It was then sent to Michael Foster<ref name=american>Template:Cite web</ref> who then first published and described it in the 'Gardeners Chronicle' of London' in 1901.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He named it after Ellen Willmott, a renowned gardener. It is one of 60 or so plants named after her.<ref name=hillkeep>Template:Cite web</ref> Mr Foster chose Mrs Willmott due to her interest in irises.<ref name=american/>

It was later illustrated in colour in Curtis's Botanical Magazine, plate number 8340, in 1912.<ref name=american/>

Iris willmottiana is now an accepted name by the RHS.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

It is hardy to USDA Zone 3.<ref name=European>James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey (Editors) Template:Google books</ref>

Although the plant is quite hardy, in the UK, it is better cultivated in a bulb frame.<ref name=hillkeep/> or Alpine house, but has been grown outside.<ref name=alpine>Template:Cite web</ref>

It prefers to grow in sandy loam,<ref name=glc>Template:Cite web</ref> with good drainage and in full sun.<ref name=rareplants>Template:Cite web</ref>

Iris willmottiana, Iris willmottiana 'Alba' and Iris warleyensis (named after Miss Willmotts garden in Essex), are all easier to find in the US than in England.<ref name="Telegraph">Template:Cite news</ref>

The plant listed as Iris willmottiana 'Alba', is now thought to be a white form of Iris bucharica.<ref name=European/><ref name=alpine/>

It can produce hybrids very easy with Iris magnifica and Iris graeberiana.<ref name=glc/>

Habit

Iris willmottiana is very similar in form to that of Iris caucasica. Sharing similar size, shape, leaf margin but having smaller flowers.<ref name=american/>

It has thickened roots.<ref name=alpine/>

It generally grows to a height of between Template:Convert tall,<ref name=hillkeep/> in late spring or early summer.<ref name=alpine/>

It has about 2 - 6 flowers on a short stem.<ref name=cassidy>Template:Cite book</ref>

The large flowers (about 6–7 cm in diameter),<ref name=alpine/> come in various shades of blue, from intense cobalt blue,<ref name=rareplants/> pale lavender-blue,<ref name=pacific>Template:Cite web</ref> pale purple,<ref name=alpine/> to light purple.<ref name=European/> The flowers are also blotched with white,<ref name=European/> and flecked deep lavender-purple,<ref name=alpine/> The falls have a large white area and white crest or central ridge with purple marks.<ref name=pacific/> The standards are about 1.5 cm long.<ref name=European/>

It has broad leaves that are glossy lustrous green, that appear in May.<ref name=hillkeep/><ref name=alpine/><ref name=pacific/> The leaves also have a thin white margin on the edges.<ref name=american/>

Native

Iris willmottiana is from Central Asia and (the former Russian state),<ref name=cassidy/> of Kazakhstan.<ref name=hillkeep/><ref name=European/> It grows wild in the stony foothills of the Pamir mountain range,<ref name=hillkeep/> at around 2900m above sea level.<ref name=pacific/> It has been found on Aksu Zhabagli,<ref name=pacific/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Karatau Mountains, in Kazakhstan.<ref name=rareplants/>

Other sources

• British Iris Society, 1997, A Guide to Species Irises: Their Identification and Cultivation, page 275
• Mathew, B. 1981. The Iris. 143.

External links

• Image from Species Iris Group of North America
• Photo on flickr