Alan Titchmarsh Grows Dwarf Irises: A Spring Delight
Titchmarsh Admits to Impulsive Purchase of Bulbs, Expresses No Regret in the Act
In October, Alan Titchmarsh, the renowned gardener, writer, novelist, and broadcaster, ordered dwarf iris bulbs and potted them in terracotta pans. By late November, slender, translucent spikes of growth began to emerge from the compost.
Two species of dwarf iris that Alan Titchmarsh cultivated are the Iris winogradowii and Iris histrioides. These early spring-flowering bulbous irises require well-drained soil and a dry summer rest, making them excellent choices for rock gardens or alpine collections.
Iris winogradowii
This species of dwarf iris typically grows up to 15 cm (6 inches) tall. It has narrow, grass-like leaves and produces delicate, pale blue to lilac flowers often marked with darker veins and yellow or white signal patches. The hardy Iris winogradowii is native to the Caucasus region and is hardy to USDA zones 5-8, tolerating cold winters.
Iris histrioides
Similar in stature to Iris winogradowii, Iris histrioides grows to about 15-20 cm tall. Its flowers are typically blue with distinctive darker blue or purple markings and a yellow or white central signal. Native to Turkey, this species is hardy to USDA zones 6-8.
Both species bloom in early spring, usually around March or April, and are prized for their attractively marked blue flowers. They thrive in sunny or partially shaded locations and require a dry summer rest after flowering to allow the bulbs to enter dormancy.
In the garden, these dwarf irises provide a delightful spectacle, with their flowers resembling miniature versions of London's Shard by December. As a gardener, Alan Titchmarsh can sympathize with the concept of 'the postponement of gratification' as the beauty of these flowers emerges only after a cold winter.
After flowering, dwarf iris bulbs break down into a smaller cluster and take time to reach flowering size once more. Over time, the more robust varieties of dwarf iris will spread.
Iris winogradowii has been hybridized with I. histrioides to create the variety 'Katharine Hodgkin', known for its pale blue color, dark blue etching, and yellow blotches. Another hybrid, 'J.S. Dijt', is a rich purple, with white markings on the fall petals.
It is interesting to note that the monk mentioned by Alan Titchmarsh practices asceticism, a form of 'gratification' that involves the offer of heaven after a life of prayer. Similarly, the patience required to cultivate dwarf irises offers a small taste of the monk's discipline, as the gardener must wait for the postponed gratification of their beautiful spring blooms.
Alan Titchmarsh, while cultivating dwarf irises for an early spring delight, successfully grows two species - Iris winogradowii and Iris histrioides - in his home-and-garden, prime examples of plants that thrive in rock gardens or alpine collections due to their requirement for well-drained soil and a dry summer rest. The hardy Iris winogradowii, native to the Caucasus region, grows up to 15 cm tall with delicate, pale blue to lilac flowers, while Iris histrioides, native to Turkey, sports typical blue flowers with distinctive darker blue or purple markings and yellow or white central signals and grows to about 15-20 cm tall.
