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Iris damascena is a rare, critically endangered rhizomatous perennial iris from Mount Qasioun in Syria, prized in cultivation for its large bi-coloured flowers. Its key to growing is a hot, dry summer dormancy in a sunny, well-drained, alkaline (limestone) setting, which is why it is seldom grown outside its native climate.
Iris damascena is a species of plant in the genus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial endemic to Mount Qasioun in Syria. It has thin, sickle-shaped, grey-green leaves and medium-sized stem that holds 1-2 large flowers between March and April. Inflorescences are white or grey-white with purple-brown spotting or veining and a small blackish or dark purple signal patch with a sparse, purple or dark purple beard. It is rarely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, as it needs very dry conditions during the summer. The species is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN.
The species is very rare in cultivation due to being highly endangered. If grown, it prefers to grow in a sunny, well drained, rocky habitat. In northern Europe or the US, it needs to be planted under glass within a greenhouse or glasshouse, in an alkaline soil (with limestone chippings). It should be planted in March, then dug up in September or October and stored in wood shavings. The plants can be harmed by aphids.
Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), and if ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction.
The species is known only from the eastern slopes of Mount Qasioun north of Damascus, part of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range. It grows on calcareous soils in association with low alpine vegetation and grasses, at an altitude of 1,200 m (3,900 ft) above sea level.
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 damascena 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.
