Iris aucheri

The Iris aucheri is a vigorous small botanical species originating from the Middle East that blooms in spring in sunny rock gardens. It is a bulbous, perennial and hardy iris, which will be appreciated, as soon as the first beautiful days come, for its blue to white flowers enhanced with yellow. In mild weather, they exude a sweet violet fragrance. It is easily cultivated in well-drained, rocky or stony soils, in full sun.

The Iris aucheri, sometimes called Aucher-Eloy Iris, is native to northern Iraq, southeastern Turkey, northern Syria, western Iran, and Jordan. It is classified in the Juno iris group, which have the characteristic of producing multiple flower stems per bulb. The underground storage organ is a bulb with large fleshy roots, not a rhizome like their famous cousins, the German Iris or Garden Iris. Belonging to the same botanical family as the latter, the iridaceae family, they also differ from them by the absence of "beards", those pretty little fluffy and colourful tongues found on the drooping sepals of the German Iris. On the other hand, they have decorative crests crossing each of the sepals.

The foliage of the Iris aucheri emerges from the ground in late winter, in February-March. It is composed of numerous lanceolate leaves, short and quite wide, slightly shiny, bright green in colour, somewhat resembling small corn leaves. The flowering takes place in April-May, more or less early depending on the climate. From the foliage emerge short flower stems each bearing one or two clusters of flowers, at 25 cm (10in) above the ground. Each flower is composed of 3 discreet petals surmounting 3 wider and drooping sepals, adorned with a bright yellow crest. From the heart of the flower also emerge 3 decorative styles resembling petals. The colour of the flower varies from light blue to slate lilac and white depending on the strains. The foliage dries up in early summer, marking the plant's entry into a dormant phase. During this period, the soil should be dry.

The Iris aucheri is perfect in rock gardens, borders, raised beds, or even to decorate ephemeral flowering pots, to bring inside the house to fully enjoy its fragrance. It pairs well with iris pumila, botanical crocus, or blanda anemones for example. Let the bulbs naturalize in well-drained soil, they will form beautiful clumps after a few years, announcing the return of spring. This plant experiences cold and sometimes snowy winters, rather dry, but also hot and dry summers in its native range. Therefore, it will be easily adopted in montane and rocky gardens, or in a dry garden.