Iris unguicularis 'Mary Barnard'
Iris unguicularis (stylosa)'Mary Barnard'• Click here to visit our Main Plant List page for current availability of this plant
• common name: winter iris
• flowering season: winter, blooming during milder weather
• height: 12 inches, flowers slightly lower
• Light requirements: sun, afternoon shade where summer are very warm
• Soil requirements: average
• Water requirments: average
• Growth habit: grows as a slowly expanding clump
• How to propagate: dividing in early summer
• Leaf type: narrow upright green leaves
• Ways to use it: its blooms reliably every year in Zone 7 thru 10; gardeners who hate to be out of their gardens during the winter months will appreciate the excuse this plant will give them to be out in the garden “looking things over”
• Special characteristics: an older plant of this is very long blooming -- for us it will bloom from November through March
A dark purple is the color of 'Mary Barnard.' The petals are not as wide as other varieties of this winter-blooming plant. Flowers freely after her first couple of years in a new location. The only problem it ever has is slugs and snails eating the flowers. USDA Zones 7 - 9, and to Zone 10 in the West.