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Iris cuniculiformis

Iris cuniculiformis is a rhizomatous perennial iris from southern China, grown for its lilac flowers in May to July. It forms dense clumps in a sunny spot with average garden water.

Family
Iridaceae (Iris family)
Grows as
Perennial
Light
Full sun, Part shade
Water
Water regularly during the growing season, keeping soil average moist but not waterlogged.
Soil
Loamy soil enriched with compost, tolerating mildly acidic to mildly alkaline conditions.
Temperature
Hardy to about -12 °C (USDA Zone 8) and above; protect from severe frost.
How easy
Easy
Safety
Toxic: Rhizome and leaves are poisonous if swallowed, causing stomach pain and vomiting; handling may cause skin irritation or allergy.
Native range
SC. China
Climate
temperate

About

Iris cuniculiformis is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris and in the section Pseudoregelia. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from China, it has long and thin green leaves, and 1 lilac (or similar shade) large flowers, that have yellow or grey beards. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

How to grow it

It is hardy to between USDA Zone 8 (−12.2 °C (10 °F)) and Zone 11 (above 4.5 °C (40 °F)). Also RHS rating of H4.

In Australia between Zones 2 to 5.

Safety

Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), and if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also, handling the plant may cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction.

Other Iris plants

Iris acutiloba subsp. lineolata · Iris acutiloba · Iris adriatica · Iris afghanica · Iris alberti · Iris albomarginata · Iris alexeenkoi · Single Bract Iris · Iris antilibanotica · Stool iris · Iris arenaria · Iris assadiana

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Iris cuniculiformis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

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