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Rhizomatous iris are often divided into three groups;
The crested Irises are an artificial group of Irises. By artificial we mean that each crested iris is often more closely related to irises other irises, either bearded irises or beardless irises irises, than they are to the other crested iris. irises. But the presence of a crest is an easy character to separate a group. And we hope you will enjoy the tour of these unusual Iris.
Perhaps the best known Crested Iris is The Japanese roof Iris, Iris tectorum. It grows easily in most parts of the country and is suitable for the perennial border. It prefers some shade in the hottest areas and a soil that is not totally dry but well drained. When it was decreed in Japan that all cultivated land must grow food, the Geishas who used its powdered rhizomes as white face paint moved it to the tops of thatched roofs giving it its name.
Perhaps the best known Crested Iris is The Japanese roof Iris, Iris tectorum. zones 5-9
It grows easily in most parts of the country and is suitable for the perennial border. It prefers some shade in the hottest areas and a soil that is not totally dry but well drained.
When it was decreed in Japan that all cultivated land must grow food, the Geishas who used its powdered rhizomes as white face paint moved it to the tops of thatched roofs giving it its name.
Iris milesii from the himalayas is almost as cold hardy as tectorum. It is generally more slender, taller and better branched than tectorum. It has more lavender pink tones than the more purple tectorum
The interesting story of how this Iris confused taxonomists for years can be read on its page; Iris confusa.
It has smaller flowers but many branches than tectorum. The flowers are larger than Iris japonica and probably not as hardy.
Zone 8-10.
Iris japonica will grow as far north as hardiness zone 7.
It multiplies rapidly by runners and can make a handsome 1 to 1 1/2 ft groundcover.
There are several color forms this one is 'Skirt Chaser'
The giant among the larger crested Irises is Iris watii. Sometimes rising to 6 feet with a bare cane below, then the fan of leaves and then the multi-branched bloomstalk.
It is seldom seen since it is hardiness zone 9-10
-- BobPries - 2013-08-17