Description
Iris orjenii, (the Orjen Iris), is a bearded (Pogon) Iris species found on the high mountains, surrounding the bay of Kotor in southwestern Montenegro extending into Bosnia in parts of its range, where its native karstic limestone straddles the border. It’s wild altitudinal range is 1,500 – 1,700m and it grows in sunny and part shade under Bosnian pines. Though clearly related to I. pseudopallida and more distantly to I. reichenbachii, it is considered distinct from both.
It appears to be confined to Mt. Orjen, which is the highest mountain of the coastal Dinaric Alps, known for its very high rainfall one of the highest in the Mediterranean basin and Europe generally.
It makes large whitish-primrose flowers which have an infusion of pale yellow or yellow green at the base, on the exterior, with veining and a striking, bright, golden-yellow beard that draws the eye away from any basal colouring. It make flowers early for a bearded species, from May to June in cultivation, a little later in the wild.
Happy here without fuss, in a well-drained, limey loam in a slightly raised, s-facing bed, but it is used to high rainfall in the wild and as long as good drainage is provided it is not difficult in any way.
Described only in 2007 (Willdenowia 37 – 2007) by Christian Brauchler and Pavle Cikovac.
Pictures from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 3 (Pavle Cikovac)