How does this iris walk?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

August 23, 2001

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Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Killer Picks: Lace Handkerchief, Variegated Japanese, Best Bet Shades of Blue—>Click here.

What Again Dwarf Reblooming Iris, Reblooming Iris Collection—>Click here.

Brecks Dutch Treat Collection The ideal starter collection for your garden - or a friend's. Eight outstanding varieties of fresh, prime-quality Dutch bulbs rushed across the Atlantic to America and fully guaranteed to grow and bloom. This spectacular 100-bulb assortment demonstrates to beginners, as well as to expert gardeners, how lovely your surroundings can be with a multitude of bright flowers from the fields of Holland. Exciting blooms start peeking through in early spring and keep coming until summer is in sight.

Shipped in a distinctive gift box with complete planting instructions. One collection equals 100 bulbs! Ships In The Fall Click here - Free $25 off any order of $50 or more at Brecks Bulbs

The walking iris or Apostle plant (Neomarica caerulea) [ne oh mare' ee ka say ru' lee a] is a native of Brazil. It seems fitting that this 'iris' comes from the land of Carnivale. The flowers are blue with brown, yellow, and white streaks, reminiscent of the flashy costumes of samba dancers. The slender arching leaves are arranged in a fan. Like other plants in the iris family, these leaves grow from a rhizome (underground stem).

Each flower appears to grow out of a leaf. Actually, the stem that bears the flowers is winged to look like the rest of the leaves. A new plant emerges from the point where the flower was only days before. The flower stem bends to touch the soil and the new plant takes root. Thus, the iris "walks" and will fill a bed with its graceful leaves and flamboyant flowers.

The name, Apostle plant, comes from the leaves. It is said that the plant will not bloom until it has twelve leaves.

The University of Hawaii has a beautiful photograph of the walking iris.

Click here to view the flower

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Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

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Lace Handkerchief Iris

Springhill Nursery®

Orchid-shaped blooms of white to lilac are delicately frilled with blue violet and gold. Lace-patterned blossoms appear in mid to late spring. Variegated, sword-shaped foliage 12-18" high, with a similar spread, is attractive all season.

Plant in full sun to partial shade.

Shipped in 3" pots. Deer tend to avoid.

Zones 4-8. Iris tectorum variegata

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Variegated Japanese Iris

Springhill Nursery®

This Variegated Japanese Iris cultivar boasts distinctive green foliage with cream-colored borders. Showy purple blooms rise above the slender, 24-30" tall foliage on 36" stems. The flowers appear in midsummer, but both before and after they bloom, the variegated foliage adds interest to your garden.

Ideal with other perennials. Space 12-18" apart.

#1 field-grown rhizomes. Deer tend to avoid.

Iris ensata Zone 4 to 9

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Best Bet Shades of Blue Reblooming Iris

Springhill Nursery®

With its pale blue standards, deeper blue petals and golden beard, this award-winning eager bloomer is a sure bet to please anyone. 34-36" tall.

Roses are red, violets are blue, but they don't rebloom like these irises do! We've chosen five varieties that bloom in shades of that hard-to-find color, blue.

Deer tend to avoid.

Iris germanica Zone 4 to 9

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What Again Dwarf Reblooming Iris

Springhill Nursery®

Award-winning variety boasts captivating, two-toned flowers. Wisteria blue standards sparkle atop straw yellow falls with wisteria blue beards. 8-10" tall.

The Dwarf Reblooming What Again Iris adds a dainty, diminutive touch to any garden! Plants grow just 8-16" tall and bear perfectly formed, miniature iris flowers--about half the size of tall bearded irises. Blooms appear in early spring, then again in fall. Wonderful for rock gardens, edging, entryways or the front of borders.

#1 field-grown rhizomes. Deer tend to avoid.

Plant 6-12" apart. Iris pumila Zone 4 to 9

Reblooming Iris Collection

Springhill Nursery®

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Create an impressive and long-lasting display with one each of the following Reblooming Japanese Iris varieties:

Gypsy Caravan - Flamboyant bicolor boasts blooms with brilliant gold standards and flaring red falls. Award-winning variety grows 36" high.
Mother Earth - Captivating mixture of pastels and stronger tones. Pale buff stnadards tinted with lavender edges, lilac-lavender falls. 36-38" tall.
Painted Cloud - As rain ends and clouds begin to break, the sky displays an awesome color show, just like this iris. A mix of lavender and pink with a velvety tangerine beard. 30-34" tall.
Harvest of Memories - You'll never forget these glorious, all yellow blooms. Striking flowers appear in late spring, reblooming reliably in late summer and early fall. 38" tall.
Breakers - Award-winning iris with heavily ruffled and fluted petals all in clean, clear blue. Breathtaking blooms on stately 37" stems.
Immortality - Popular iris has beautifully ruffled flowers that are glistening white through and through. A heavy repeat bloomer. Sturdy stems reach a height of 29".

Zones 4-9. Iris germanica