Description
Iris revoluta is a curious Italian species. It is endemic to a small island in Southern Apulia, where it grows in pure sea sand. However, in cultivation it has grown very well in normal soil. It does very well here, outside, unprotected, in a sunny, raised bed with no protection whatsoever.
It has been suggested that it could be a natural hybrid, but to my knowledge no parentage has been suggested to substantiate this claim which is based on flimsy, or no, evidence at best. The odd thing is that this species has no close affinities with any other Iris in Apulia, being totally distinct from Iris pseudopumila which is the only other species present from Central to Southern Apulia.
Iris revoluta is a tall species, up to 70 cm. The stem is usually branched, with many flowers. These are a very dark indigo-violet, slightly scented and have the falls folded (revolute) hence the specific name. The beard is a pale blue-violet also with the tiniest tipping of yellow.
This species seems not to set seed in cultivation, and in the 7 or so years that we have had it growing here, we have never once set seed but in habitat there are said to be many obvious seedlings.
