One of the most beautiful flowers in bloom now at the Wilson County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens at 1806 S. Goldsboro Street is the 'Xiphium hybrid' Iris. They are located along the road frontage in the tree planting and we have had numerous calls on how beautiful they look.

Iris xiphium ( Xiphium vulgare) are bulbous plants not rhizomes such as the bearded iris. Xiphos is Latin coming from the Greek wood meaning sword, which refers to the slender foliage of these irises. The leaves tend to reflex gracefully, making the plants look like leeks whcn not in flower.

There are English, Spanish and Dutch irises with the Dutch being the most popular. They tend to be more tolerant of inclement weather than other irises are are widely available in many colors. The Dutch iris was produced by the Tubergen Nurseries in Holland. They are best described as large and earily blooming. They typically flower the first of May and continue through June. The foliage tends to stay green all winter but may be killed to the grown with frosts without harm to the flower buds. Plants are 15-24 inches tall and flowers can be 4-5 inches in diameter. They are popular cut flowers. Flower colors range from bright yellow to the darkest blue. Here at the garden we have a blue-purple and a marroon. The bulbs should be planted about 6 inches deep in the fall and need not be disturbed. They can be planted in groups against shrubs or hardy perennials, or mixed with winter bedding plants of pansies and violas . They can be a companion planting with another bulb, crinums. Some popular varieties include the gentian blue "Prof. Blau'and paler blue 'Wedgwood'.

The Wilson Display Garden, at 1806 S. Goldsboro Street and is open from dawn until dusk. Come visit the garden! Home gardening questions can be answered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 until 3 PM by calling 237-0113.

Date Created: 6/23/03.

Date updated: 10/08/2003