There are 2 species of iris in this winter flowering group:

I. unguicularis (Winter Iris, Algerian iris, I. stylosa) is found in nature growing in rocky country in Greece, Turkey & the Middle East.

It has grey green strap like foliage growing up to 60cm tall, and forms a vigorous clump. The sweetly scented flowers are clear lavender blue, with a narrow gold signal patch surrounded by a white area, striped & dotted blue. Flower stems are almost nonexistent, the flower being held up by an extended ovarian tube, so that the flowers are often hidden among the foliage unless one cuts the foliage back in late autumn. Seed pods thus form at the base of the plant.

I.unguicularis commences flowering in late autumn, and blooms for an extended season through winter and early spring.

A number of forms exist, including “Mary Barnard”, “Walter Butt”, the smaller flowering “Cretensis” (photo below), the white blooming “alba”, and a striped form, which is reputed to be mosaic virus infected.

I. lazicus is native to N.E. Turkey and Russia, where it grows in shady moist conditions, but will grow happily in dryer soil. The leaves are wider and greener than those of I. unguicularis, arching to form an attractive clump. Flowers are borne a little higher than those of unguicularis, making them more visible. They have slightly more substance, but are otherwise very similar. I. lazicus blooms towards the end of winter and into spring.