Butterfly Iris, Iris spuria

Last summer I visited the Royal Botanical Garden in Hamilton for the first time in several years. I found impressive displays of early summer perennials and row upon row of peonies in full bloom, but the flowers that captured my imagination the most were the lovely combination of Iris spuria and Iris Sibirica in all their glory. 

In my home garden, I have several Iris Sibirica, but I don't have any Iris spuria. These delicate irises look like softly colored butterflies. Not surprisingly, I later learned that one of the many common names for this plant is "Butterfly Iris". 

 Iris spuria subsp. carthaliniae (white form)

Iris spuria is native to southern Europe, northwestern Africa and southwestern Asia where it can be found in damp meadows, marshes and salt flats. It's a tall iris that can grow to as much as 5ft. Iris spuria flower a couple of weeks after tall bearded irises so they can help extend the time period you have iris in bloom. They have narrow, grass-like leaves and flowers that come in a range of colors including lilac, white, purple, wine and brown. In the fall, Iris spuria produces a long hexagonal seed capsule. They easily self-seed and may naturalize to form big clumps.

Iris spuria 'Allegory'

Growing Conditions

Iris Spuria requires full sun in rich, well-drained soil. Too little light may inhibit blooms. While they like consistent moisture during the spring growing season, they do not like wet soil. Soggy soil encourages rot.

These irises are heavy feeders, so fertilize your plants in the early spring to encourage the best display of flowers.  When the blooms are spent, remove the flower stems right to the ground to help keep your clump of irises looking tidy and to provide good air circulation.  In summer, the growth of many Iris spuria slows as plants enter a dormant period. They do not require supplemental water during this time of rest.

While Iris spuria does not like being moved, they will become crowded after a few years and will benefit from division. Divide them every 3-4 years right after they flower. They may need a full gardening season to recover before beginning to bloom again.

Pests and Problems

Verbena bud moth, slugs, snails, whiteflies, and thrips can all affect these perennial, but iris borer is the most common problem. Remove and destroy any affected foliage or rhizomes. Leaf spot, bacterial blight and rust are additional issues that can affect the foliage. Soft rot of the rhizomes and crown rot are signs of poor drainage.

A lack of flowers may be the result of overcrowding, too little sunlight, too much fertilizer or rhizomes that have been planted too deeply.

Removing debris to encourage good air circulation and routine division is key to keeping your Iris spuria happy.

Companion Planting

The mix of Iris spuria and Iris Sibirica at the Royal Botanical Garden was just beautiful. Like Iris spuria, Iris Sibirica likes full sun and soil that is rich in organic matter. To learn more, please visit this post on Siberian irises.

Iris Sibirica 'Percheron'

Iris Sibirica 'Purple Sands'

As well as irises, there were a number of other perennials in flower at the RBG including Peonies, Baptisia, Salvia, hardy Geraniums, Columbine and Lupins.

Siberian Irises with Peonies in the background.

 Peonies

Peonies and tall purple Phlomis tuberosa 'Amazone' in the background.

Salvia x sylvestris 'Ostfriesland'

 Knapweed, Centaurea hypoleuca 'John Coutts'

False Indigo, Baptisia and Giant Fleece Flower in the background.

Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial

Height: 2-5 ft

Spread: 2-3 ft

Flower: A range of colors including lilac, white, purple, wine and brown. They make great cut flowers.

Bloom period: Late Spring/early Summer

Leaf: Narrow green leaves

Light: Full sun

Growing conditions: Rich, well-drained soil

Move or Divide: After flowering

Problems: Iris borers, verbena bud moth, slugs, snails, whiteflies, and thrips. Leaf spot, bacterial blight, rust and soft rot.

USDA Zones: 5-9

Unusual Spring Bulbs: Erythronium

If you are looking to add some early spring color under deciduous trees or shrubs, Erythronium are a terrific option.

Erythronium are woodland perennials that emerge early in April to take advantage of the sunshine before the trees overhead leaf-out. Within a short period of time they awake, bloom and store energy for the following year. Then Erythroniums slip quietly back into dormancy.

Though I have titled this post "Unusual Spring Bulbs" Erythronium aren't technically bulbs, they're corms. Very much like a bulb, a corm stores water and nutrients for a dormant plant. Erythronium
are planted at the same time as other spring bulbs, so they all tend to get lumped in together by many bulb suppliers and nurseries.

There are almost thirty different species of Erythronium most of which are native to North America. Erythronium Americanum (shown above) is a tiny wildflower native to the eastern half of Canada and U.S. 

Erythronium Americanum will often form large colonies of plants at different stages of development. Plants with a single leaf are young and will be flowerless until they mature. Trout Lilies that have two basal leaves will produce a nodding yellow flower on a bare reddish-brown scape.

A detailed look at the unusual foliage. You can just see the flower buds starting to emerge.

Each of the common names for Erythronium has a little something to tell you about the plant:

Dog-tooth Violet–it's a bit of a stretch, but the corms do somewhat resemble a dog's tooth. The corms are about an inch in length and are beige in color.

Fawn Lily–the leaves have the pointed shape of a young fawn's ears.

Adder's Tongue–the closed flower resembles the head of a snake.

Trout Lily–the brown mottling on the foliage looks a bit like the scales on a fish.

Erythronium 'Pagoda'

One of the Erythronium most commonly available is a hybrid named 'Pagoda'. It's a robust plant with large yellow flowers. 

Plants with white and pink blooms are a little harder to find (in Canada at any rate). They are also a bit pricier than the common yellow 'Pagoda'. Pink and white Erythroniums are beautiful plants, so it is well worth a search to find an online supplier. 

Planting Erythronium

Erythronium likes moist, slightly acidic soil with lots of organic matter.  You can grow them from seed, but you're in for a long wait. It can take as many as five years for a plant to mature enough to flower. It's much better to start with corms.

Erythronium is easily grown in part-shade at the feet of trees or shrubs. These are tiny flowers that grow no more than 4-6 inches tall, so I'd recommend planting them in groups of six or more.

Plant the thumb-sized corms in the fall along with other spring bulbs. Place them 2-3 inches deep and 4-5 inches apart.

Plant Type: Perennial

Height: 4-6 inches (10-15 cm)

Spread: 3-4 inches (7-10 cm)

Flower Color: White, Yellow, Pink

Bloom period: April/May

Leaf: Green leaves mottled with brown

Light: Part-shade to full shade

Water: Moist during the spring

Soil: Rich in organic matter

Companion Plants: Daffodils, Crocus, Snowdrops, Hellebores

Planting time: Fall

Deer resistant

Problems: None

USDA Zones: 3-8

Over the last few years, I have come to love the delicate flowers of my yellow Erythronium. Spring is off to a wonderful start when they begin to flower.

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Moss or Creeping Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue' in Carina Wong's front garden.

Creeping Phlox always makes me nostalgic for my mother's garden. Mom had great swaths of Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue' in her rock garden at the front of our house. Those dense mounds of lavender flowers were always spectacular each May alongside white Arabis, dwarf bearded iris and sunny-yellow Basket of Gold, Aurinia saxatilis 'Compacta'.

Mom always referred to Phlox subulata as Creeping Phlox, but Moss Phlox seems to be the common name I hear more frequently these days.  Phlox subulata flowers for a number of weeks in early spring and forms a low mound of green, needle-like foliage.  The star-shaped flowers have five petal-like lobes that are notched on the outside edge.

The native form of Phlox subulata can be found on rocky, sandy slopes and open woodlands in Michigan, Ontario and in a large area that runs from New York south to Tennessee. Modern cultivars come in an array of colors including pinks, reds, purples, white and white striped with hot pink.

Moss Phlox is fairly adaptable to a variety of soil types, but the soil must be well-drained. I can't stress this enough. Nothing will kill your Moss Phlox quicker than cold, soggy soil in the wintertime. If your soil isn't free-draining, amend it with fine pebbles, sand and organic material.

Moss Phlox prefers evenly moist conditions, so water young plants until they are established. Even after Moss phlox has settled in, it still may need supplemental watering during periods of prolonged drought.

Full sun will produce the best show of flowers. In southern gardening zones, however, Moss Phlox will appreciate a little respite from the heat of the afternoon sun.

 Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue' in the garden of Marion Jarvie in Thornhill, ON.

A cushion of lavender-pink flowers in Marion Jarvie's garden.

Here pink Moss Phlox mixes with white Arabis in the gravelly soil of the rock garden at the Agricultural Campus of Dalhousie University in Truro, N.S.

The somewhat messy appearance of Phlox subulata after it flowers.

Ongoing Care

After the spring flowers fade and turn brown in late spring, Phlox subulata can look a bit scruffy and untidy. Give your plant a light haircut to remove the spent flowers and promote fresh foliage. If you're lucky, you might even see a little bit of reblooming.

After a few years, the plant's stems can become woody and will produce fewer and fewer flowers. To stimulate fresh growth and more springtime blooms, cut the stems back by half.

If you want to divide your Moss Phlox, do it in early spring just after they have finished flowering.

Cultivars to Collect

In the pictures below, one cultivar may seem pretty much like any other with the exception of the flower color. There are differences: 

Some cultivars grow more quickly than others. The needle-like foliage can also be finer and more dense on some cultivars. Finally, the flowers vary in size. When you do your shopping, you'll note these distinctions much better than you will in my pictures.

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue' is a popular cultivar for all the right reasons and is a great one to start with.

Phlox subulata 'Violet Pinwheels' has intense violet-purple flowers in early spring. Plant in full sun. Average, well-drained soil. Height: 10-15 cm (4-6 inches), Spread 60-90 cm (23-35 inches). USDA zones:3-9.

 Phlox subulata 'Red Wings' has hot pink flowers with a deep magenta eye. Plant in full sun. Average, well-drained soil. Height: 10-15 cm (4-6 inches), Spread 30-60 cm (12-24 inches). USDA zones:3-9.

Phlox subulata 'Pink Emerald' has pink flowers with a hot pink eye. Plant in full sun. Average, well-drained soil. Height: 15-20 cm (6-8 inches), Spread: 30-45 cm (12-18 inches). USDA zones:3-9.

Phlox subulata 'Purple Beauty' has magenta flowers with a purple flash at the flower centre. Plant in full sun. Average, well-drained soil. Height: 15-20 cm (6-8 inches), Spread 30-45 cm (12-18 inches). USDA zones:3-9.

Phlox subulata 'Crimson Beauty' rose-pink flowers with a magenta flash at the flower centre. Plant in full sun. Average, well-drained soil. Height: 10-15 cm (4-6 inches), Spread 30-45 cm (12-18 inches). USDA zones:3-9.

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue' soft lavender colored flowers with a purple flash at the flower centre. Plant in full sun. Average, well-drained soil. Height: 15-20 cm (4-6 inches), Spread 30-60 cm (12-24 inches). USDA zones:3-9.

Phlox subulata 'White Delight' has large white star-shaped flowers in April or May. Full sun. Average, well-drained soil. Height: 15-20 cm (6-8 inches), Spread: 30-60 cm (12-24 inches). USDA zones:3-9.

Other white cultivars: 'Cotton Candy', 'Early White', 'Spring white'

Phlox subulata 'Candy Stripe' has masses of white flowers with a hot pink down the centre of the petal. Full sun. Average, well-drained soil. Height: 20 cm (8 inches), Spread 30-45 cm (12-18 inches). USDA zones:3-9.

Several types of Moss Phlox in the private garden of Marion Jarvie.

Companion Planting

Moss Phlox is most often used in rockeries where it fits in well with other alpine and rock garden plants. 

Its low carpet of blooms also makes a great understory for daffodils and tulips. It can also look terrific planted alongside early flowering hellebores. 

Plant type: Perennial

Height: 4-8 inches (10-20 cm)

Spread: 12-24 inches (30-60 cm)

Flower: Star-shaped flowers in a variety of colors

Bloom period: Early spring

Leaf: Green, needle-like foliage

Light: Full sun

Soil: Average, but must be well-drained

Moisture conditions: Prefers evenly moist, but free-drained soil

Divide: In spring after flowering

Deer Resistant: Somewhat deer resistant, but rabbits will eat this plant

Problems: Leaf miners, mites and caterpillars can be an issue. Other issues include rust, mildew, blight and stem canker

USDA Zones: 3-9

The Temptation of Two Spring Anemones

This spring, two perennials that may tempt you at nurseries are Anemone canadensis and its kin Anemone sylvestris. Both have really pretty white flowers that may stop you in your tracks, but be cautious, both are very aggressive plants. If you're aware of this and can choose a location where their spread can be curtailed, adding them to your shopping cart won't be something you come to regret.

As you probably know, I usually shy away from aggressive plants. I've had too many problems with them in the past. Groundcovers, like Anemone canadensis, do have their uses such as under a large tree. That's exactly where I have this spring perennial. 

In early June, the small area under our black walnut tree is a sea of little white flowers. It has colonized the entire area crowding out my hostas. I ended up having to transplant the hostas to another part of the garden. Thankfully a rocky lip generally keeps Anemone canadensis's spread in check on all sides. Even so, it occasionally pops up in the adjacent pathway, where I have to pull it out.

Anemone canadensis makes a great understory for spring bulbs. Late flowering tulips, daffodils and alliums look even nicer with a carpet of white at their feet.

Anemone canadensis is a North American native that can be found growing in dense colonies on river margins and in moist meadows. This is a plant that's adaptive to a range of conditions and can easily be grown in average, well-drained soil. In my garden, it gets morning sun and afternoon shade.

Meadow Anemone or Windflower, Anemone canadensis has upward facing white flowers on erect hairy stems. The plant has a mounded shape and deeply-cut, shiny green leaves. Again, this is not a perennial for a mixed flowerbed. This plant spreads by creeping rhizomes and is best left to naturalize in a controlled area. Height: 30-60 cm (12-23 inches), Spread: 30-60 cm (12-23 inches). USDA zones: 3-8.

Anemone sylvestris

Anemone sylvestris is native to Europe and Asia. The flowers are a little larger than those of Anemone canadensis and stand higher above the plant. Anemone sylvestris and Anemone canadensis have a similar mounded shape, but the foliage of Anemone sylvestris is a lighter, matt-green.

Again, Anemone sylvestris is a spreader that can quickly dominate an area.  The best place to use a plant like this is in a garden bed with a clearly defined edge that can control its spread. 

Snowdrop Anemone, Anemone sylvestris blooms just ahead of Anemone canadensis. The nodding white flowers are held high above the plant on wiry, green stems tinged by red. Anemone sylvestis has matt-green leaves and a mounded, bushy shape. Like Anemone canadensis, this perennial will spread and colonize an area. The flowers are followed by fluffy seed heads. Divide in fall. Full sun or part shade. Height: 30-45 cm (12-18 inches), Spread: 30-60 cm (12-23 inches). USDA zones: 2-9.

Here and in the two of images above is Anemone sylvestris

Private garden in Mississauga, ON.

My experience of this second anemone is rather brief. Anemone sylvestris has been on hold in my nursery bed while I decide where I'd be brave enough to plant it. 

On a recent garden tour, I had an opportunity to ask another gardener about her experience with its aggressive nature. She found it did spread, but was not the worst behaved plant in her garden.

As you can see, the flowers are quite beautiful. What do you think? Dare you invite either of the spring anemones home with you?

Vintage Bottles

On our limited budget, collectables and antiques have to be purchased for a song. Old bottles, which can be had for as little as a quarter meet that criteria.  In little groupings, old bottles make pretty vases for spring flowers.

For these photographs, I started with Kim Klassen's Warm Sun texture. I color-adjusted  Warm Sun into both a blue and grey version of the original. I layered them on the image (soft light) and removed the texture from some of the areas of the picture. 

Click the link here to see the other entries in Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesdays.