Description
(iberica subspecies iberica)
There are forms of Iris iberica known (Iris iberica Rustavi) found some years ago, which have a subtle tint of light blue colouring in the standards. These pale standards sit above falls with a cream ground colour heavily marked, all over, with deep chocolate veins and flecks around a dark coffee-coloured signal patch. However Iris iberica Blue is a totally different kettle of fish, for a start, nothing about the colouring is subtle, with its deep purple-blue, beautifully veined standards sitting above near white falls which are themselves veined and strongly contrasted with deep violet-purple. The effect is stunning.
I have no proof, (though I do have an unsubstantiated gut-feeling) that perhaps, somewhere in its lineage, this plant has more than a touch of paradoxa incorporated into it, which would be supported by the differently-shaped, more slender and “boxy” flower though the counter argument would be that the falls look nothing like those of paradoxa!
No matter what its genetic history, this is a superb, colourful and floriferous plant, which really catches the eye. “Standard” Oncocyclus conditions suit this form well.
