Although not as widely acclaimed as some, Iris reticulata ‘George’ with its deep purple flowers is a stunning cultivar. This is another hybrid between Iris histriodes and Iris reticulata.
The flowers are a really rich velvety royal purple with yellow markings on the falls. The main show of foliage appears after the flowers, upright and sword shaped. Although not unattractive is a bit of a sideshow.
Grow Iris ‘George’ in the rock garden, or a raised well drained bed. Also suited to growing in containers, however not a long term solution, ‘George’ seems to like a rest in the garden after 2 – 3 years.
Iris reticulata ‘George’ Care
- Postion – Full sun
- Soil – Humus rich well drained
Propagation
By division, in good conditions you can divide Iris reticulata ‘George’ every 3 years.
Problems
- Snails and slugs can be an issue with new flower shoots. The petals can be quickly damaged. Surround the plant with some grit to deter them.
- Bulb rot if allowed to stay wet through summer can cause quick deterioration. Plants left in pots for a number of years also seem to lose vigour.
Summary
- Height – 12cm
- Spread – Flower size is 6 – 7 cm
- Soil – Humus rich free draining
- Flowers – Winter to spring deep purple petals and falls marked with yellow.
- Position – Full sun
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