Spurias anyone?

Every year, my attention falls on a new type of iris. This year, it was Spurias. These irises are hardy through a wide range of climates. They prefer sunny, well drained locations and soils that are slightly alkaline. Their bloom season is directly after the Tall Bearded Irises have finished.

If you can grow Tall Bearded Irises, then you can grow Spurias! The plants tend to be rather tall, and make large clumps that rarely have to be divided. The grass-like foliage goes dormant in the summer if it receives little to no water. However, it can stay relatively green if watered regularily.


Spuria flowers are excellent for cut floral arrangements and are swiftly replacing Dutch Irises for the main choice of florists.

The following pictures are ones I took at my local iris garden; Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden.

Here is 'Adriatic Blue':

'Border Town' is quite striking:

'Missouri Iron Ore' makes a bold statement:

The lovely 'Missouri Rainbows':

'Sunrise in Sonora':

'Sultan's Sash':

One of my two very favorites; 'Lucky Devil':

My other favorite; the richly colored 'Innovator':

'Falcon's Crest' has a unique pattern:

The deeply colored 'Zulu Chief':

'Destination' dares you not to notice it!

Here's 'Color Focus':

Another lovely cultivar; 'Sonoran Sunset':

'Art's Alive':

'Missouri Clouds' adds a fresh touch to the garden:

ff- those are beautiful. i can see another bad habit starting. belinda

No kidding. Just when I think I can't possibly find more irises to buy...here comes something else! Well, I guess nobody's twisting my arm! :]

I look Destination. I have Solar Fire a 2005 into that was a gift last year from the hybridizer Lee Walker.

I like it!

Here is my only spuria, at least I think it is a spuria. Just don't really have room for them.
ah me.
Inanda

And here's mine. I've had it for almost thirty years.

Whoops

Oh my goodness! Now you did it. Another addiction to add to what I already have.

I especially liked Missouri Rainbows, Lucky Devil, and Destination.

May I ask where you puchased them and would you have extra to trade in the future?

Maxine

I forgot. Did have that mauve one of Echoes. Inadvertantly gave it away a couple of weeks ago. I'll hear about it next year fur sure.
Inanda

Maxine~

I purchased all of my spurias from Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden, www.flowerfantasy.net and All Things Iris, www.allthingsiris.com. They both have a great selection and VERY reasonable prices!

Those are just gorgeous! I've never heard of Spurias, but after seeing them, I've fallen under their spell. Particularly that Adriatic Blue - just fabulous.

galega~

Yes, 'Adriatic Blue' was among my top three of all the ones I looked at. The other two were 'Innovator' and 'Lucky Devil'.

I was surprised to learn that Spurias are not more widely grown, since they do just as well (and in some cases much better) than the modern Tall Beardeds do. The foliage is just beautiful, and, if you keep them watered, it stays relatively green and lush. You can also let the plants go dormant and let the foliage die down. I've talked to two seasoned gardeners that do it different ways. I'm really excited about them! The only negative I've heard about them at all, is that they can be hard to dig up because their roots run pretty far out into the surrounding dirt. However, since they really don't have to be divided, this doesn't seem like much of a negative to me.