Siberian irises are one of my favorite garden plants, and they hold a sentimental value as well. Growing up, we had an impressive stand of a deep purple variety that I believe was "Caesar's Brother" that old centurion of perennial gardens. For me, they were something out of the Japanese prints my father was partial to, and my mother mistakenly called them "Japanese iris", but I now know them by their proper name, Iris siberica. No self-respecting Japanese iris, Iris ensata, would have survived in the somewhat dry and partly shady garden near a garage and competing with tree roots. But the Siberian soldiered on and thrived through cold snow and frozen winters, droughty summers, and all the Midwest climate could throw at them. . . .

reBlogged to iris

Posted by Ilona Reblogged by Old Roses to iris on 2007-10-16, 06:16:44

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