Iris variegata

HUNGARIAN IRIS

Syn. I. reginae

Iris variegata
HUNGARIAN IRIS
Syn. Iris reginae

Iris variegata is hardy, tough, easy to grow, and downright gorgeous – in a tiger stripe kind of way.

Tiger striped silken blooms

Cream petals striped with deep purple and mahogany, surround a golden centre with dark dots.
And the blooms have a glistening silken sheen.
There are 3-6 striking tiger striped flowers per branching stem in early summer.
Plus clumps can grow to be quite dense, with many flower stems in the clump.

Water-wise & easily grown

Iris variegata is native to a wide range of habitats in Eastern Europe, from Hungary to Ukraine, from Austria to Italy – so no wonder it is hardy, adaptable and easily grown.
It takes easily to life in the garden or life in a pot.

Tough & tenacious grower
Hardy Iris variegata is a tough and tenacious grower, even when neglected.
And is robustly frost hardy down to at least – 20C in the winter, whilst also happily able to cope with summer heat and humidity.
Hungarian Iris is a water-wise plant that is well adapted to heat, as well as summer humidity.

Very good in rocky places & gravel soils

Iris variegata is very good in rocky areas and gravel soils, as well as good garden soil – it is not fussy.
Because it thrives in open sunny areas or partially shaded sites, as a native of  woodlands and open scrubby rocky areas in Eastern Europe.

Low care & low maintenance

70cm. High in silken bloom x 30cm. Wide. Dense clump of very upright, green sword-like foliage.

Cut foliage back to ground level at the end of autumn, so fresh foliage can come away in spring.
It is not essential to divide the clumps, but dividing every 3-4 years will promote even more flowering. Dig and divide after flowering, but not every year.

Parent of 1000’s of modern Bearded Iris 

Crosses between Iris variegata and Iris pallida in the 1850’s eventually led to the thousands of modern varieties and myriad of colours of Tall Bearded Iris we enjoy today.
The Hungarian Iris is one tough cookie, and a brilliant parent.

SEED SOWING ADVICE:

Sow in punnets indoors / or sow directly in the garden autumn or winter.

Sow indoors for quick plants: First rub the seeds gently between your hands with some sharp sand (or you can use fine sandpaper) to score the seed case.
Then soak seeds in warm (not boiling) water that has previously been boiled.
And leave stand in the cooling water for 24 hours.

Now drain the seeds and sow in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
And cover with grit/mix/sand/vermiculite to depth the same as the of seed’s diameter.

Place the punnet in a warm, well-lit position (not in direct sunlight).
Continue to keep the punnet moist at 16 to 21°C for 2-4 weeks.

Then wrap the moist, sown punnet in cling wrap or a plastic bag & place in the fridge (not freezer) for 4-6 weeks.

Now remove from fridge, unwrap punnet & place again in a warm, well-lit position.

Temperatures 18-22°C approx. are ideal for rapid and optimum germination.

Seedlings begin to emerge in approx. 28-35 days.
But patience – do not discard punnet, as some seedlings may come later.

Seed Count: 3 seeds per pack approx. (Seeds are scarce).
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

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