Iris reticulata Blue Planet

The 'Iris reticulata 'Blue Planet' is a variety of reticulated iris that stands out for its delicate and refined pastel flowering; its flowers are a pale silver-blue with a yellow-orange spot at the base of each sepal. This small bulbous plant, which blooms as early as the end of winter, deserves a prime spot near the house or a pathway to fully enjoy the spectacle. A gem for rock gardens, it is also a valuable plant for light and dry soils. In humid climates, it will be more long-lasting when grown in a pot, which will also allow for a close-up view of its delicate flowers.

The 'Iris reticulata 'Blue Planet' is a recent horticultural variety. Reticulated irises are bulbous plants of the iris family that naturally grow in alpine meadows and rocky habitats (on limestone and gneiss-rich soil), between 1000 and 2500 m altitude. This 'Blue Planet' variety forms a small, erect and spreading clump of 12-15 cm (5-6in) in flower and can spread indefinitely through the production of bulblets. This cultivar blooms at the end of winter, when the days begin to lengthen, usually in March. Its solitary flowers, 8 cm (3in) in diameter, are relatively large compared to the size of the plant. They consist of 3 female floral parts, called styles, transformed into very narrow and spatulate petals, upright. Their colour is a pale blue-gray, washed with mauve. Below this trio of petaloid styles, 3 horizontal sepals are arranged in a staggered pattern. Wider, they are convex, illuminated by a beautiful bright yellow-orange spot and bordered by a dark blue-gray streaked white zone. Each flower is enclosed at the base by two scale-like bracts. The foliage, short during flowering, elongates afterwards. The basal leaves are glaucous green, quadrangular in section, sheathing at the base. They are deciduous and disappear in summer.

The 'Blue Planet' reticulated iris is perfect in rock gardens, borders, raised beds, or to decorate ephemeral flowering pots, to be brought indoors to fully enjoy its fragrance. It pairs well with iris pumila, botanical crocuses, anemones blanda, or Algerian iris. Let the bulbs naturalize in very well-draining soil, and after a few years, they will form beautiful clumps that herald the return of spring. This plant experiences cold and snowy winters in its native range, as well as hot and dry summers. Therefore, it is easily adopted in mountainous and rocky gardens or in a dry garden.