Warning: Fresh iris roots may be toxic.

Propagation by Plant Division: Purdy’s iris is not densely rhizomatous, and it is recommended that the plants be started from seed. However, this iris is still clonal, radiating in growth outward from the center of the plant. This iris can be propagated from plant division, in fall or winter after the first new roots are established but before the flowers form.

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Description

General: Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae). Oenothera biennis is a biennial, herbaceous forb. The family is so-named because the flowers are partially to fully closed during the day and open in the evening. The bright yellow to gold corolla is 2-5 cm wide, with four petals. The fragrant flowers usually last only one to two days. The erect stem, which sometimes branches near the top, can be covered with hairs. The plant grows from 3-25 dm tall. Basal leaves, which form a rosette, are from 10-30 cm long. The stem has alternate, lanceolate-shaped leaves, 2.5-15 cm long, that are shallowly toothed and wavey at the edges. The leaves are usually hairy.The plant flowers can from June through October.

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Growing Irises

Irises will tolerate sun for most of the day in mild areas, and should have afternoon shade and ample water in the interior regions.These plants are intolerant of frequent summer water; they should not be planted near lawns or other moisture-loving plants.These plants require excellent drainage; therefore, compacted or other water-holding soils may need to be modified.Fertilization increases biomass and seed production.

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Description

General: Leopard Lilly, Lily Family (Liliaceae).This perennial herbaceous plant grows along stream banks and moist meadows below 2,000 m elevation. It has five subspecies (pardalinum, pitkinense (rare), shastense, vollmeri, and wigginsii).The stems are from 3 to 7 feet tall and the leaves appear in 1 to 8 whorls up the stem or are scattered. The leaves are linear to lanceolate, 1-2 dm. long.

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Yellow Fringed Orchids

General: Orchid Family (Orchidaceae). The Yellow Fringed Orchid plant is a native, perennial herb.The upright stems will grow 30 cm to 1m tall.The roots are tuberous or fleshy. The plant has numerous lance-shaped leaves.The lower leaves are about 30 cm long, 3 to 6 cm wide, with smaller leaves toward the top.The plants have showy spikes (5 to 20 cm long) of loosely clustered flowers.The flowers grow in racemes, opening from bottom to top. The flowers can be bright yellow through apricot to deep orange.The lower petal or lip of the flower is linear-oblong (8 to 12 mm long, 2-3 m wide) with long ciliated fringe (12 to 16 mm long).The spurs are 20 to 33 mm long. Blooming time is variable, but usually from late June in the North to late September in the South.

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Description

General: Rose family (Roseaceae). Virginia rose (Rosa virginiana) is an upright shrub growing between four to six feet tall. The glossy dark green foliage develops excellent yellow to red fall color (Dirr 1997). This species bears fragrant pink flowers that are two to three-inches in diameter and occur in clusters of five to eight.

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