Iris sibirica
| Iris sibirica | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Iris sibirica (common name: siberian iris)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first year. Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer.
Division, best done in August/September after flowering but can also be done in April. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Cultivation: Prefers a humus-rich soil[1], succeeding in a moist border or by water[2][1]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. The plants are very cold tolerant, but they can be damaged when dormant if the soil is too moist[1].
A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties[3].
Plant the roots out very shallowly[1].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[4].
Range: C. Europe to Russia.
Habitat: Damp woodland[5], pastures and heaths[6].
Edibility: Root - an edible starch is said to be extracted from it[7][8][9]. The root is not eaten in China[10]. Some caution is advised since there are reports that the plant might be poisonous. Perhaps the extracted starch is edible.
Medicinal: Expectorant[10].
Usage: An insecticide is obtained from the plant[10]. (from the root?)
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Known Hazards: Many plants in this genus are thought to be poisonous if ingested, so caution is advised[11]. The roots are especially likely to be toxic[12].
Plants can cause skin irritations and allergies in some people[12].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Innes, Clive. The World of Iridaceae. Holly Gate, 1985.
- ↑ Grey, Charles. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate, 1938.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Europe. Oxford University Press, 1969.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Stuart, George. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei Southern Materials Centre.
- ↑ Frohne, Dietrich and Hans Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Timber Press, 1984.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.