Iris foetidissima, 10 seeds
Iris foetidissima is a majestic evergreen perennial which produces many 3-inch wide, mysterious, pale mauve flowers that are slightly tinged in yellow. Flowers are replaced by large cylindrical capsules with bright scarlet seeds in autumn. The seeds are extremely showy and persistent, often remaining in the open pods on the plants well into winter. Large, dark green, sabres of leaves. It is one of my favorite shade plants and the Royal Horticultural Society of United Kingdom has even given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). Such a prized perennial doesn't come cheap in the catalogs, so get some seeds and start your own! 3 feet tall, 2 feet wide. Moist, humusy, well-drained soils, but an established plant can tolerate some dry conditions. This is the ONLY Iris that thrives in heavy shade but also does well in moderate shade. Hardy from zone 6 upwards. Hard-to-find fresh seeds, harvested 12/2024.
