Iris reticulata Eyecatcher

The Iris reticulata Eyecatcher is a variety derived from the Iris reticulata recently obtained in Canada. It sometimes blooms as early as February, offering fragrant flowers that catch the eye with their precise design and delicate porcelain-like colours. Each petal has a white background, painted with shades ranging from indigo blue to violet, enhanced with yellow towards the center and sprinkled with small navy blue spots. This small bulbous plant is cultivated in well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade, in flower beds, rock gardens or even in pots.

According to sources, Iris reticulata is a cross between Iris histrioides major (blue) and Iris winogradowii (pale yellow with spots in the throat), or the marriage of Iris histrioides major (blue) and Iris danfordiae (strong yellow with spots in the throat). These plants are all native to the Caucasus and naturally grow in alpine meadows and rocky habitats (on limestone and gneiss-rich soil) between 1000 and 2500m (3281 and 8202ft) altitude. Forming a small, erect and spreading clump of 15 cm (6in) in flower, this perennial spreads indefinitely through the production of bulblets. Like its parent, the cultivar 'Eyecatcher', sometimes marketed as 'Eye Catcher', blooms at the end of winter when the days start to lengthen, usually in February-March. Its solitary flowers, 7 to 8 cm (3in) long, are relatively large compared to the size of the plant, and highly fragrant. They are composed of spatulate tepals, with the 3 upper ones narrow and erect, shorter, and the 3 lower ones wider, bulging, and strongly veined. Each flower is enclosed at the base in two purplish-green scale-like bracts. The fruits are swollen capsules containing ovoid seeds. The foliage, short during flowering, lengthens afterwards. The basal leaves are glaucous green, quadrangular in section, sheathing at the base. They are deciduous and disappear in summer.

The reticulated iris is perfect in rock gardens, borders, flower beds, or even to decorate ephemeral flowering pots, to bring indoors to enjoy its fragrance up close. It pairs well with iris pumila, botanical crocuses, anemones blanda, or Algerian iris. Let the bulbs naturalize, they will form beautiful clumps after a few years, announcing the return of spring.