A plantsman’s choice
The Algerian iris
This fine iris, Iris unguicularis, belongs to the small group of winter-flowering plants. Though it is of little value as garden decoration, since its lovely blossoms are usually hidden in the tangle of long, ribbony leaves, when picked in bud and allowed to open indoors, the unsullied loveliness of the scented mauve flowers is quite breathtaking.
Although sometimes called the Algerian iris, it is fairly widely spread around the Mediterranean, and a number of forms have been collected varying in shades of colour (there is a good white), in height, and in time of flowering. These variants are available in commerce and are well worth searching out.
The specific name stylosa, by which
