Iris warleyensis

Iris warleyensis is very similar in form to Iris orchioides and Iris bucharica, but differs in colour and has a white horn-like edge to the leaves.[1]

It has a bulb with a brown papery skin and thick storage roots.[2]

The leaves start as 1.5–3 cm wide at the base of the plant,[2][3] and appear at the end of the flowering time.[2] They are arching,[3] scattered, lance-shaped, channeled, mid green in colour,[4] with a white margin.[5] They can also grow up to 20 cm long.[3]

It grows to a height of between 20–45 cm (8–17.5 in) tall.[4][3]

In spring,[3] April (in the US),[5] it produces between 3 and 5 flowers.[4][6]

The flowers come in shades of blue, ranging from deep violet, purplish-blue,[1][7] summer-evening blue,[5] to pale lilac.[4] They are 5–7 cm (2–3 in) wide. Each fall has a darker blue apex and a yellow (or white)[7] stain or crest in the centre.[4] The blades curve down. The standards are deflexed, pale blue with a night-blue band in the centre,[5] and 1–2 cm long. The standards can also vary in shape, from narrowly linear to almost 3-lobed shaped.[7]

Iris warleyensis, Iris bucharica and Iris orchioides, all have cubiform seeds.[8] But I. warleyensis seeds have a conspicuous cream coloured seam (known as a 'raphe') all the way down one side from top to bottom.[1]

It was first published by Michael Foster in 'Gardeners' Chronicle' Series 3, 261 of London in 1902.[9][10]

Iris warleyensis is now the accepted name by the RHS,[11] and it was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 3 October 2014.[9]

It was found in Bokhara in Eastern Turkestan in 1899, by a plant collector on behalf of the Van Tubergen nurseries in Haarlem, the Netherlands.[12] Mr Foster then named it after 'Great Warley', the renowned gardener Ellen Willmott's garden in Essex.[1][5]

It was later mentioned in the RHS Journal (later known as The Garden) 91.f 159 in 1966.[7]

Iris warleyensis is native to Central Asia.[3] Located in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.[9] It was found on the stony slopes of Pamir Mountains or Aman-Kutan mountains, South of Samarkand in Uzbekistan.[5][2][3]

It is hardy to USDA Zone 3.[7] In the UK, it is best cultivated in an unheated greenhouse, alpine house or bulb frame.[4][2]

But it will grown in well-drained soils in any sunny spot that are not too wind-swept.[13][3]

Iris warleyensis will hybridise readily.[14] Iris warleyensis and Iris bucharica can cross quite freely, and the seedlings are usually vigorous plants of the shape and stature of the latter species.[6] Iris bucharica x Iris warleyensis hybrids have yellow or greenish flowers bordered with green or brown patches.[8]

• Iris Warlsind (I. warleyensis X Iris aucheri)

Iris 'Warlsind' was created by a Dutch nurseryman called Thomas M. Hoog. It has standards that are white-pearl streaked with milk-blue. It also has bright yellow lozenges (with a yellow ridge), tipped with chocolate brown on its falls. It grows to a height of between 24–35 cm (10-14"). It is hardy in the US.[5][7]

• Image of Iris warleyensis

Data related to Iris warleyensis at Wikispecies