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Iris palaestina
Iris palaestina is a small bulbous perennial from the eastern Mediterranean, prized for its early, fragrant greenish-white flowers in winter. It needs a dry summer rest and well-drained soil to thrive.
Iris palaestina (sometimes Iris palestina) is a species in the genus Iris belonging to the subgenus Scorpiris. It is a bulbous perennial from Asia, including the Palestine region (Israel, Palestine and Jordan), Lebanon, and Syria. It has long, narrow, strap-like leaves, and a short stem. The early blooming, fragrant flowers are greenish-grey/white or yellow-white.
It is also known as the Palestine iris, and it is known in Hebrew as איריס ארץ-ישראלי (iris eretz israeli).
It is hardy to USDA Zone 4. In the UK, the iris is not hardy and is generally a poor grower. It is better grown in a pot under cover in a greenhouse or bulb frame. It should be potted in well-drained, fertile compost and should have a summer rest from watering.
It can be seen in Tel Aviv University Botanic Garden.
Iris palestina is native to Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestine region (Israel, Palestine and Jordan). In Lebanon, its range includes Batha, and in Israel, it was found in Golan, Galilee, the Mediterranean coast, the northern valleys, Carmel, Samarian mountains, Samarian desert, Judean mountains, Sharon and Shefela.
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 palaestina 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.
