Irises (Part 3)
Plicatas can be named as the real mystery group. The petals of this variety have light colored centers edged in a darker shade, but this allows space for different combinations. Pot Luck is a variety whose petals have cream colored centers edged with a narrow stippling of yellow. Often the edges of a Plicata look like strokes of stiff dry brush, which has left spots of varying sizes.
One more mysteriously called variety is Witch of Endor. It is also known as a Rebloomer, often producing a second round of blossoms in the autumn. Another similarly named favorite is Witch’s Wand with black Falls and a purplish black Standard.
There is long-long range of irises varieties, most with funny names, like Conjuration, New Moon, Superstition or Strange Magic. Some names speak of other places like: Fresno Frolic, Mt. Cook A’Dawning, Miss Atlanta or Barbary Coast. There are irises named for music like Jazz Jubilee or Mountain Melody, or astronomy like Pulsar and Quasar, or even for drinks like Margarita Time and Tequila Sunrise. Whatever your interests, you can find irises whose names reflect them.
Irises are easy to grow, ask little care and gardening time and offer apparently endless list of colors and hue combinations. The bearded iris is that very flower of dream for today’s busy gardeners.