Iris winogradowii

The Iris winogradowii, sometimes called Winogradoff's Iris, is a botanical species that has become rare in its native range, probably due to its wonderful pale yellow and fragrant flowering that emerges at the end of winter, but perhaps also because it requires specific growing conditions to thrive. This small bulbous plant produces beautiful large flowers of a soft primrose yellow, speckled with green on the sepals which are also marked with an orange crest. Originally from mountainous regions, perfectly hardy, this very beautiful iris deserves to be cultivated in humus-rich and moist, but well-drained soil, in the shelter of an understory, in filtered light.

The Iris winogradowii is a perennial plant of the iris family, native to the mountains of southern Caucasus, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Nowadays, it can only be found in a few locations in Georgia, where it grows in subalpine meadows, as well as in pockets of humus accumulated in slightly damp rocky outcrops. It also prefers semi-shaded exposures in summer, meaning under deciduous woody plants. The plant develops from a storage organ, which is an elongated bulb 2 to 3 cm (1in) tall, covered with a brown epidermis. In humid conditions, it tends to develop stolons. This iris blooms from late February, or in March depending on the climate, before the foliage appears, which makes it valuable in the garden. The flowers, 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4in) wide, are carried by stems about 8 cm (3in) tall. They are large compared to the size of the plant and appear to emerge directly from the ground. They consist of 3 erect inner tepals dominating 3 more horizontal outer tepals adorned with green spots and an orange midline. They are highly fragrant. The foliage develops when the flowers fade, forming a clump of narrow, stiff and pointed leaves, up to a maximum height of 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16in). It is at this point that the bulb divides into several bulblets, allowing the plant to colonize its environment.

The Iris winogradowii is cultivated in flower beds or rock gardens, in partial shade and in humus-rich, acidic soil that is always slightly moist. Cultivating it in pots seems quite delicate. It can be associated with other small early-flowering bulbs, such as snowdrops, spring crocuses, or botanical and early tulips. It also pairs well with hellebores. They should be planted in groups of 15 bulbs to quickly create beautiful splashes of colour in early spring. Lastly, it is a plant that should thrive in an alpine trough, just like Dodecatheon, Globularia cordifolia, or Saxifraga 'Pixie'.