Get the AppSell with Us

About

Iris tingitana var. fontanesii from Morocco is a bulbous Iris in the Iridaceae, notable for its blue flowers borne singly or in pairs. It produces a pair of channelled leaves that appear in autumn and largely conceal the flowering stems. Plants arise from a rounded bulb and can reach a moderate height in bloom. Flowering in the UK occurs from May to July.

About the genus

Iris takes its name from the Greek goddess of the rainbow, and for once the naming feels entirely earned. I can't think of another genus that covers so much ground — inky purples, burnt apricots, clean whites, blues that seem lit from inside — or so many situations. There are bearded irises that want their rhizomes baked in full sun, Siberian types happy in ordinary border soil, and species that will sit contentedly at the edge of a pond. What they share is the flower: three petals standing up, three falling away, built with a kind of architectural confidence most plants never attempt. Even out of bloom the foliage earns its place — those upright fans of blue-green leaves hold a border together for months. I grow them for the fortnight in May and June when nothing else in the garden can compete, and I've made my peace with that. Some plants are for the long haul. An iris is an event.

Written by Henry

In the garden

Iris tingitana var. fontanesii from Morocco belongs to the genus Iris and the family Iridaceae and sits within the bulbous Xiphium group. The botanical name records its link with Tangiers, reflecting its North African origins. The plant grows from a rounded bulb and typically shows a small number of flowers per stem, with the foliage emerging in autumn. Treat it as a bulbous iris: allow the bulb to form its autumn leaves before expecting bloom the following late spring to early summer, with flowers appearing in May to July. The stems are usually subtended by two channelled leaves and carry one or two blooms each, so give individual bulbs room rather than crowding. Established bulbs can be lifted, divided and reset where necessary after foliage dies back. In UK gardens it suits a sunny, well-drained spot where bulbs can remain dry in summer dormancy and receive cool conditions while leaves develop. It performs well in a mixed spring border or in containers where drainage and bulb spacing are controlled. Expect the characteristic one to two flowers per stem and the autumn emergence of narrow, channelled leaves as the season progresses.

More in the Iris genus

Browse all Iris →
← Plant Directory