Incarvillea and Irises. Rhizomatous Perennials Wintering in the Soil of Kyrgyzstan

Incarvillea (Incarvillea Juss.).

Grows wild in China. The roots are turnip-shaped, fleshy, with rosette leaves that are pinnately dissected and on long petioles. The flowers are funnel-shaped, carmine-pink, orange-yellow, and pink-lilac, gathered in loose inflorescences. It grows well in nutrient-rich soils and open sunny places.

Two species are particularly interesting: I. Delavayi (I. Delavayi Bur. et Franch.) reaches a height of up to 70 cm, with carmine-pink flowers and a yellow throat; and I. compacta (I. compacta Maxim.) with larger, pinkish-lilac flowers.

Iris (Iris L.). A flowering ornamental plant, commonly referred to as "rooster" in folk terms. About 30,000 varieties of hybrid iris (I. hybrida hort.) and around 250 wild species are known, growing in Europe, Asia, North America, and North Africa. In the Soviet Union, there are about 60 species, and in Kyrgyzstan — 4. No more than 50 natural species have been introduced into cultivation.

Irises are rhizomatous plants with flat, sword-shaped, linear basal leaves. The rhizome consists of branched vegetative shoots that persist for several years. Each segment is represented by a yearly growth. Flowering or generative shoots are annual. The flower consists of 6 segments (petals) of the perianth. Three of them, called outer segments, usually hang down, while the other three, often smaller and raised upwards or gathered in a dome shape, are the inner segments. Some irises have a strip of hairs on the outer segments — a "beard." The flowers are diverse in color, with up to 300 shades counted. This is reflected in the name of the plant: "iris" translates from Greek as "rainbow."

In private gardens, mainly hybrid iris varieties are grown, which belong to the group of bearded garden irises. They vary in plant height, flower size, and color. They are divided by flowering time into early, blooming in the city of Frunze from the third decade of April or the first decade of May, medium — from the second, and late — from the third decade of May. Each variety blooms for about two weeks.

Irises are placed in open sunny areas or among sparsely standing trees, in partial shade. They prefer light fertile soil and do not tolerate excessive moisture. They are planted singly or in groups, in combination with other flowering plants and shrubs. Beautiful compositions of irises with natural stone or a pond are appealing. Dwarf varieties are good along paths, in rock gardens, and on alpine slides. One can choose monochromatic or contrasting colors, for example, orange, yellow with blue or light blue, yellow with purple, red with yellow.

Cut inflorescences are beautiful in a vase. They are cut before the first bud opens.

Garden irises are propagated by dividing the rhizome, while wild species can also be propagated by seeds. They can be transplanted throughout the frost-free period, but it is better to do so in late summer to early autumn. Seeds are sown in winter, in October-November. Overgrown bushes are divided or thinned out. Central old segments without visible buds and roots are discarded. They are planted in large pieces of rhizome or individual segments (divisions). Cuts should preferably be dried or sprinkled with charcoal. The rhizomes are covered with a layer of 2-3 cm.

Care for irises is similar to that for other perennials: watering, weeding, periodically cutting off faded inflorescences, and removing dried leaves in autumn.

Table 4 provides a description of the best hybrid iris varieties. In addition to them, wild species can be used, which are quite undemanding in cultivation and have a unique appearance.

I. aphylla (I. aphylla L.). Grows wild in Europe, Armenia, Georgia. A low-growing plant with a branched flower stem up to 15-20 cm tall, bearing 2-3 flowers. The leaves are bluish-green, sword-shaped, up to 30 cm long. The flowers are faintly aromatic, bright violet. They bloom in the first half of May. There are garden forms available.

I. ochroleuca (I. ochroleuca L.). Native to Asia Minor. A tall plant, up to 1 m. The stems are very sturdy, with narrow, stiff leaves equal in length to the stem. The flowers are quite large, white or pale ochre-yellow with a bright yellow spot on the outer segments, without fragrance. Drought-resistant. Blooms in June.

I. pumila (I. pumila L.). Found in Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, and the Caucasus. A miniature early spring plant. The flower stem is up to 8-10 cm tall, bearing one small flower, often in various shades of violet or yellow. The leaves are bluish, sword-shaped, up to 15 cm long. Blooms in the second half of April.

I. sibirica (I. sibirica L.). Grows wild in Europe, the Caucasus, and Western and Central Siberia. There are hybrid forms. A tall plant forming a compact bush of narrow linear leaves up to 50-80 cm long. The stems are hollow inside, up to 1 m tall, ending in a few-flowered inflorescence. The flowers are small, blue, purple, or white, blooming in May.

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