True Winter Bloomers
True Winter Bloomers
True Winter Bloomers are flowers in our garden which don’t just offer a wishy washy display but actually look as if they are enjoying these cold months.
January 25th nothing much in bloom, a few Primulas and Polyanthus offering a hint of what is to come.
Hold on though, what’s this, Iris Reticulata Harmony, not just a stray flower here and there but actually in full bloom, giving a marvellous show to lift the spirits in these cold wintry days.
These ones are planted in a border in the front garden near the living room window.
Growing Iris Reticulata Harmony.
Iris Reticulata require free draining soil, fortunately this is a South facing area of the garden where the clay soil had been generously improved.
Soil should be neutral or slightly on the alkaline side. Perhaps the acidic soil is the reason for failure of this plant in Aberdeen. Mind you, they did look good in the first season after planting but they never reappeared in the following year.
Position, said to grow North, South, East or West facing. I feel pretty sure that they are happiest of all in the sunny spot.
Reticulata grows to a height of about 15cm/6″ and in the most favoured garden spot will bloom like ours in January, they don’t last long in flower a little over two weeks on average.
We also planted a few pots up with these Iris last October. I wont keep them in the pots which will be required for Summer plants, however I will plant the bulbs in the woodland area and will let you know if it was a success.
I am extremely happy with these dwarf Iris and feel confident of their return next year, either way I will let you know.
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Its now the 5th of February and the Snowdrops are in bloom, well not quite opened up as yet in our garden as you can see.
Snowdrops are of course one of the true Winter bloomers I expect they will open up very soon and last a bit longer than the Iris.
Pulmonaria, just starting to open up, in our garden it is early Spring when they give of their best.
Primulas start to open in the dead of Winter, rather raggedy though. Early Spring they come into their own.
The Daffodil tete e tete are starting to bloom where the sun is catching them best, those in a slightly shadier position should open soon enough.
An unnamed Hellebore in the woodland walk, another of the true Winter bloomers.
Crocus looking rather perky in the front garden for the time of year. Where we lived in Aberdeen there was a large municipal garden area smothered in Crocus. Only one year did I see it blooming in February, it didn’t give the usual stunning show that it usually gave when blooming in March, early isn’t always a good thing.
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I am intrigued Esther. Will check it out a little later.
I’ve been away for a few days and, on my return, notice some of my taller plants have been somewhat burnt by frost. I’ll have to take a walk around the smaller plants to check how they are doing.
Something completely different. . . I decided it would be funny to have a ‘testimonials’ page on my blog http://tinyurl.com/zhlzlsz (They always look suspicious!) and I’ve included a quote from you and a link to this blog.
Hope this is ok and that the idea amuses you. If not, I can easily remove the quote and the link. Let me know. Best wishes. Esther Montgomery.
Tough yet fussy Sue.
those irises are a wonderful shad of blue, haven’t got them myself but I believe they’re tough. Hope your potted ones make it from captivity to the wild.
Your experience is always welcome Helene. Your success with reticulate is encouraging for those of us who have struggled.
I have ‘Harmony’, ‘Pixie’ and ‘J.S. Dyt’ – my experience with Iris reticularis is that they are not fussed at all. I have had some in pots for several years, just stuck under my garden bench for the summer, and they all flower beautifully the following spring. And here in my new garden they are planted in almost complete clay – and still came up this spring. Hopefully they will continue to come up but time will tell. I also plant my Iris reticularis rather deep, not sure where I heard that tip but I have always done that, both in the ground and in pots.
I have all the winter bloomers on your list except for pulmonaria, having hellebores flowering from late December and spring flowers from late January is a treat and adds to the ‘Flowers 52 weeks a year’ in my garden 🙂
I need to get more Hellebores planted Janet.
I love iris reticulata, I’m hoping the ones I planted in my front garden return next year. Your pulmonaria are ahead of mine, but I’m really enjoying the various hellebores.
Rick, I guess in Aberdeen they would require a really good sheltered and sunny position to thrive.
As you would expect Alistair I have an identical list of genera in bloom here. My I.reticulatas tend to diminish over a period of time, I suspect mainly because of shady conditions, I do know that, like some of their bigger relatives, they need a good baking during the summer for them to thrive.
Often referred to as corms but these dwarf ones are more like true bulbs.
Very interesting, takes volunteers to another level.
The blue of your dwarf iris is striking! A few years ago a swath of blue in the woodland garden caught my attention, and I discovered these beautiful blue dwarf irises. I had not planted them and had never seen them in my garden before. I was thrilled. I looked for them the next year but have not seen them since. It is a mystery to me! My Hellebores were slow to bloom this year but are beginning to open in abundance now. Winter Daphne and Edgeworthia both have buds about to open. And my poor camellias! The lovely blooms are not really hardy. They bloom whenever we get a few days of warm air, only to be zapped when the temperature plummets below freezing.
Love your yellow crocus and irises, Alister. I think these irises are bulb plants, aren’t they? How nice to see spring in your garden, mine is under the white covering.
Happy GBBD!
Annette, I was always banging on about being unsuccessful with reticulate in Aberdeen. I have come to the conclusion that extremely free draining is essential. I must try Winter Aconites in our woodland strip.
Forgot to say your photos are wonderful!
Hi Alistair,
We have been very lucky with Iris reticulata in our rockery. It is very well drained and after your comments I have been wondering whether the soil is not so acidic as elsewhere. It was brought in when the patio was created. I must test it sometime. I first replanted some from an indoor pot someone gave me. Since then I have been buying corms myself. They have been returning for quite a few years now and are multiplying nicely. This year I have my first batch of Pauline in flower – they are a lovely mauve colour, more purple than the blue of Harmony. I also grew some Clairette in a pot. They are very pretty too. It was only last year I realised that there were so many different varieties of this lovely plant. It has to be one of my favourite. Now Winter Aconites, that is a different story. I planted two different varieties last Autumn (in the green) and not a sign of any of them. I am still hoping I might even get a few leaves, but it is looking less and less likely I think.
Moraea, must look it up.
The Winter garden seldom looks better than when covered in snow.
Sadly no we have no winter bloomers….these all bloom in early spring here….snow is the only thing growing in my garden now!
your little Iris reminds me to track down Moraea bulbs.
Our own version of a delicate dwarf iris.
Angie that is an interesting point regarding the planting depth of reticulate, I will retain this information.
What a gorgeous display Alistair. I have had success and failure with I. reticulata and after reading somewhere, I can’t remember where, that planting them deeper than recommended helps to ensure the bulbs come back each year. I have to admit, I have found that to be the case with I. reticulata Pauline in the front garden – their bulk does not seem to be diminishing. But my trial is only in its 2nd year so can’t fully testify to that fact.
Iris are rather fleeting Sunil, still worth planting up a small area with them though.
Hello Alistair, I’m not a fan of Iris Reticulata but I must admit that the ones you’ve photographed do look good. As we didn’t do any spring bulb planting last Autumn (we were too shattered), we have large expanses of bare soil where the bulbs would have been if we had the energy. I’m definitely missing them but I’m hoping that this Autumn, I can go for a bulb planting record for next year!
That’s a shame Esther.
I think being water logged may well be the biggest problem.
Crippling misery seeing your photos. My little irises, crocuses and even daffodils are in paper bags in in a bucket, still un-planted and in their bulb and corm state. Never caught up with myself last autumn.
Esther Montgomery
http://estherandthetimemachine.blogspot.co.uk/
Iris haven’t come back for me this year so I may have your Aberdeen problem. Possibly acidity, possibly water logging. They are too good not to have though, next year I’ll try them in pots and keep them drier.