1753, botanical author Linneaus
Iris germanica L. (Carolus Linnaeus, 1753); Section Iris . TB; Early bloom; Color Class-B1M; Medium blue self;
See below:
a name of dubious value. It has been used to lump everything from all tall bearded hybrids (xgermanica); to having been narrowly defined as 'Germanica' a widespread cultivar often called 'Grandmother old flags'. Since the definition has varied with so many authors, references to it in this text carry a variety of meanings. for further discussion see J. Taylor (1995).
'Germanica' The clone found in many gardens as 'Grandmother's Blue Flags', probably of natural hybrid origin. Said to be sterile, but will produce seed freely under proper conditions; first treated as a species by Linneaus. This blue intermediate iris with lighter standards and darker falls is best treated as an IB cultivar of unknown parentage, and registered with A.I.S. as a species. If we accept this type of Linnaeus as a hybrid (2n=44) then we are left without an accepted species to which we can assign the various forms and varieties of Iris germanica. Possibly tetraploid forms should be assigned to Iris amasia Foster (2n=48). For this list we have retained the name Iris germanica since it is so widely used and no taxonomist has been brave enough to tackle this disparity. AIS Bulletins gives the following description; "Early; Standards pleroma violet; falls velvety nigosin violet; stalk high and short branched; growth vigorous; 2 ft. Spathes tinged maroon; beard white, yellow tipt at base; haft white with braod reticulations of purple; winter foliage half-grown. Rarely fertile in the north." [Mathew includes many varieties under Iris germanica including tetraploid forms.
References: Iris germanica L. in ; |
Gerarde 1597; Herbal |
Chromosome counts: 2n=44, Banerji & Chaudhuri, 1972; 2n=28, Mao 1986; 2n=44 Sopova 1982; 2n=44, Váchová & Feráková, 1986; 2n=44, Lovka, 1995. |
Hort. Eyst. Cel. Eyst. Vern. Ord. 8. Fol. 5. 11 1613, illustrated; |
Gordon 1790; |
Curtis's Botanical Magazine 18; 670. 1803, illustrated in color; |
Redouté, Les Liliacées, 1802 |
Prince 1823; |
Macoun; Farr 1912; Per. 1938; Vilm. 1938; Wass. 1938; Kat. 1939; |
"Bearded Iris Tried at Wisley"-Journal of The Royal Horticultural Society 131.; H.C., R.H.S. 1916; AA clvii.; |
German Iris; latifolia vulgaris coerulea, 1613; Spectabilis, 1796; vulgaris, 1810; violacea, 1815; Florentina purpurea; Parisensis; To the true germanica have also been applied the following common names which are to be treated as synonyms; Blue Bird; Florentina Blue; Germanica ancien; Purple Queen; ("Old Grandmother's Early Blue"); sweet fragrance.
The following <>cultivars have been said to be forms of Iris germanica;
'Adriatic Shores', 'Amas', 'Askabadensis', 'Baveilles', 'Belouinii', 'Biliotti', 'Black Prince', 'Col Du Chat', 'Cretan', 'Crimson King', 'Croatica', 'Deflexa', 'Florentina', 'Fontarabie', 'Germanica' 'Germanica Alba', 'Germanica Caerulea', 'Germanica Major', 'Germanica Marmorata', 'Germanica Maxima' 'Germanica Violacea', 'Germanica Vulgaris', 'Gnome', 'Gypsy Queen', 'Istria', 'Junonia', 'Kharput', 'Kirman', 'Kochii', 'Kurdistan', 'Lemperg Purple', 'Macrantha', 'Nepalensis'', 'Oriflamme', 'Paladin', 'Purple King', 'Seattle' 'Sivas'; 'Srinagar', 'Thun', 'Turchino', 'Varbosiana', 'Varbossana'.
Germanica crosses other than those with Amas
'Bellorio', 'Carmelo', 'Cosette', 'Daesitiatensis', 'Dorothea', 'Eglamour', 'Father Time', 'Louis Bel', 'Milesaway', 'Mistress Ford', 'Mme Claude Monet'
Iris 'Amas' crosses
'Alcazar', 'Ambassadeur', 'Angelo', 'Anne Bullen', 'Arac', 'Autumn Haze', 'Autumn King', 'Blue Bird', 'Blue Gown', 'Dominion', 'Dorcas Hutcheson', 'Daesitiatensis', 'Dulcimer', 'Edouard Michel', 'Eleanor Roosevelt', 'Frida', 'Grenville', 'Harbinger', 'Ib-Mac', 'Juliet', 'Kiltealy Shy Blue', 'Lady Grey', 'Lent A. Williamson', 'Lochinvar', 'Lord Of June', 'Magnifica', 'Monsieur Chaber', 'Mrs. Walter Brewster', 'Neptune', 'Palmyra, 'Papio', 'Phyllis Bliss', 'Prospero', 'Pumilac', 'René Cayeux', 'Sarpedon', 'Sir John Eaton', 'Souv. De Mme Gaudichau', 'Speed', 'Speedwell', 'Susa', 'Tartarin', 'Twilight', 'Ursula', 'Violet Wonder'.
¼ Iris germanica 'Amas' crosses ("grandchildren" of 'Amas' listed by parent)
Other crosses with 'Amas' as grandparent: 'Alpine Halo', 'Anine', 'Amante', 'Ardimac', 'Argyll Las', 'Aril Lady', 'Beautiful Dreamer', 'Bethel Queen', 'Capitola', 'Cinna Mac', 'Clouded Moon', 'Dance Of Spring', 'Don Ricardo', 'Grenville', 'Hidden Secret', 'Hoogimac', 'Lady Mohr', 'Lasting', 'Legacy', 'Little Lena', 'Moonchild', 'Morera', 'My Cap', 'Mystery Guest', 'Norseman', 'Persian Pattern', 'Silver Charm', 'Somewhere', 'Susimac'.
'Germanica Alba'. (Collected). TB; E; W1, White; 2n=44. Offered by John Cree of Addlestone Nursery in 1837. See next entry also. [Iris germanica].
Distribution: Region: Northwest Balkan Penninsula, Yugoslavia (for I. xgermanica, (I.pallida x I.variegata)). Note widely naturalized across Europe |
Cultivation: Full sun, Well-drained soil. Generally retains some leaves over winter. Summer dormancy during dry conditions is best time to divide and transplant. |
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-- Main.RPries - 2010-01-12
I | Attachment | Action | Size | Date | Who | Comment |
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JPG | 1753IrisGermanica.JPG | manage | 146 K | 18 Jun 2017 - 02:11 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by Daniel Boris,Iris Du Grand Barbu-France |
jpg | Dykes_Plate_XLVIII_germanica_edited-1.jpg | manage | 33 K | 03 Jan 2011 - 21:38 | UnknownUser | From Dykes The Genus Iris |
jpg | Germanica9.jpg | manage | 36 K | 07 Jul 2021 - 02:38 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by Ozark Iris Gardens |
JPG | Germanica_Typ_A.JPG | manage | 55 K | 30 Jan 2011 - 13:11 | IrisP | |
JPG | Germanica_Typ_C.JPG | manage | 61 K | 30 Jan 2011 - 13:11 | IrisP | |
jpg | Hortus_EystentensisIrisGermanica.jpg | manage | 1 MB | 03 May 2016 - 17:02 | BobPries | |
jpg | I._germanicaJB.jpg | manage | 95 K | 28 Jan 2012 - 20:37 | Main.Betsy881 | Photo by John Black, zone 4, Montana |
jpg | IGermanicaAA.jpg | manage | 26 K | 16 Feb 2011 - 17:55 | Main.Betsy881 | Photo by Argyle Acres |
jpg | I_GERMANICA_EI.jpg | manage | 55 K | 08 Jul 2016 - 12:13 | Main.ruiris | from the book 'The Iris' (G. Rodionenko et al., 1981) |
jpg | I_Germanica01.jpg | manage | 49 K | 10 Oct 2014 - 15:54 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by Napa Country Iris Garden |
jpg | Iris_germanica_vulgaris1_edited-4.jpg | manage | 73 K | 14 Apr 2010 - 23:55 | UnknownUser | Pries photo |
JPG | cretan1.JPG | manage | 397 K | 29 Apr 2019 - 22:29 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by scanned from the Carol Lankow slide collection |
JPG | cretan2.JPG | manage | 481 K | 29 Apr 2019 - 22:31 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by scanned from the Carol Lankow slide collection |
JPG | cretan3.JPG | manage | 333 K | 29 Apr 2019 - 22:33 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by scanned from the Carol Lankow slide collection |
jpg | germanica01.jpg | manage | 28 K | 12 Aug 2014 - 23:13 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by Iris Gal Iris Garden |
JPG | germanica02.JPG | manage | 93 K | 10 Aug 2015 - 19:39 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by Iris Paradise |
jpg | germanica05.jpg | manage | 58 K | 31 Jan 2019 - 15:05 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by Old House Gardens. |
JPG | germanica1.JPG | manage | 529 K | 03 Aug 2018 - 18:40 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by Nancy McDonald-The Pickle Barrel Collection. |
JPG | germanica2.JPG | manage | 584 K | 03 Aug 2018 - 18:42 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by Nancy McDonald-The Pickle Barrel Collection. |
JPG | germanica8.JPG | manage | 53 K | 13 Jan 2014 - 03:35 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by Winterberry Gardens |
jpg | germanica_redoute_309.jpg | manage | 59 K | 11 Oct 2013 - 14:09 | BobPries | Biodiversity Heritage Library |
JPG | germanicaistria.JPG | manage | 273 K | 06 May 2019 - 22:10 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by scanned from the Carol Lankow slide collection |
JPG | germanicaistria1.JPG | manage | 331 K | 06 May 2019 - 22:12 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by scanned from the Carol Lankow slide collection |
JPG | germanicanepalensis.JPG | manage | 417 K | 06 May 2019 - 21:59 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by scanned from the Carol Lankow slide collection |
jpg | igermanica01.jpg | manage | 20 K | 11 Sep 2014 - 16:17 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by Seagate Irises-United Kingdom |
jpg | igermanica02.jpg | manage | 52 K | 21 Aug 2014 - 01:39 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by Iris City Gardens |