Iris tectorum Seeds | Roof Iris
LATIN NAME: Iris tectorum
COMMON NAME: Roof Iris
Plant Profile
Known to gardeners as Roof Iris, Iris tectorum is a perennial in the iris family. Roof iris is purple-blue flag of old roofs, and crested, three-lobed flowers open above fan of the leaves. It is a plant of open, sunny to partly shaded, moist, well-drained ground. For the gardener, the sum of these traits is a plant that is easy to live with.
Science & Biotechnology
Like other members of the iris family, Iris tectorum draws steady attention from botanists and plant breeders, who value the genus both as a subject of research and as a source of garden-worthy material. Gardeners benefit directly from its long cultivation: what the plant will do in a garden is well understood.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Roof Iris for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Roof iris is a fine, bold plant of courtyard and old garden. It is a fine, bold plant of open, sunny to partly shaded, moist, well-drained garden. Give rhizomes a sunny, well-drained spot and divide clumps every few years for fresh fans. A plant that has settled in will get along with only routine care.
Iris rhizomes, the orris of perfumery, yield one of the most luxurious fragrance materials after years of curing; the genus has toxic fresh rhizomes, so its medicinal history is strictly professional and its garden value immense.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Roof Iris under ordinary good conditions. Scatter the seed evenly over a loose seed compost, cover to no more than its own depth, and keep the pot moist and bright. Transplant the sturdiest seedlings to their permanent spots and let them develop without disturbance.
Our Take
Roof Iris is the kind of plant that rewards a permanent spot. Minor errors in timing or watering rarely cost the grower the crop.
Related Reading
Continue exploring with these related plants: