Iris reticulata Blue Note - Netted iris

The Iris reticulata 'Blue Note' is a recent variety that is truly different, with a very blue colour, a blend of violet-blue, ultramarine, and night blue speckled with white, with a surprising and remarkably delicate design. It is also distinguished by its flowers with very thin floral parts, whose horizontal sepals seem splattered with India ink on a background of bright white paper. It is a true gem for rock gardens and a valuable plant for dry soils, especially since this reticulated iris blooms like the others from the end of winter. In humid climates, it will be more perennial when grown in a pot, which will also allow for a close observation of its magnificent flowering.

The Iris reticulata 'Blue Note' is a Canadian variety resulting from a cross-breeding with the Iris reticulata 'Pauline'. Reticulated irises are bulbous plants from the iris family that naturally grow in alpine meadows and rocky habitats (on limestone and gneiss-rich soil), between 1000 and 2500m (3281 and 8202ft) altitude. 'Blue Note' stands out with the extraordinary combination of its blue shades illuminated by a pure white central spot. Forming a small erect and spreading clump of 12 cm (5in) in bloom, this perennial extends indefinitely through the production of bulblets. This cultivar blooms at the end of winter, when the days begin to lengthen, usually in February-March. Its solitary flowers, 8 cm (3in) in diameter, are relatively large compared to the size of the plant. They are composed of 3 female floral parts, called styles, transformed into very narrow and spatulate petals, erect. Their colour is violet-blue washed with very bright delphinium blue. Under this trio of petaloid styles, 3 horizontal sepals are arranged in quincunx. Wider, they are rounded, illuminated by a beautiful white spot stained with ultramarine blue and black, and bordered by a beautiful blue-black zone. Each flower is enclosed at the base in two scale-like bracts of a purplish green colour. The foliage, short during flowering, elongates afterwards. The basal leaves are glaucous green, quadrangular in cross-section, sheathing at the base. They are deciduous and disappear in summer.

The reticulated iris is perfect in rock gardens, borders, raised beds, or to decorate ephemeral flowering pots, to be brought inside the house to enjoy its fragrance up close. It pairs well with iris pumila, botanical crocuses, anemones blanda, or Algerian iris. Let the bulbs naturalize in very well-draining soil, they will form beautiful clumps after a few years that will announce the return of spring. This plant experiences cold and snowy winters, as well as hot and dry summers in its native range. Therefore, it will be easily adopted in mountainous and rocky gardens, or in a dry garden.