Danford iris

Danford iris: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Small bulbous plant about 10 cm tall and 5 cm wide in flower; the leaves keep growing after flowering.

Leaves

Narrow and grass-like, grey-green; they die back in late spring.

Flower

One flower per stem, bright yellow, with green-brown speckles on the drooping petals and small upright inner petals.

Scent

Light, sweet scent that you notice mostly on a sunny day.

Bulb

Small, oval bulb with a brown, fibrous coat. After flowering it often splits into small bulblets.

Flowering: February–March · Plants: September–November

Why grow it?

• One of the earliest flowers in the garden: bright yellow in February and March, when almost nothing else is in bloom.
• First food for bees and bumblebees on mild, sunny days.
• Fully hardy down to about −25 °C; snow and night frost do not harm the flowers.
• Small and compact: fits in a rock garden, a pot or a narrow strip at the front of a border.
• Very little work: no pruning, no staking and hardly any watering.
• Has a light, sweet scent, especially on sunny days.

Danford iris: where does it grow best?

• Full sun or light partial shade; it flowers before trees and shrubs come into leaf, so beneath deciduous shrubs also works.
• Well-drained soil: sandy or loamy, lime is fine. Keep the soil dry in summer.
• Tolerates a dry summer rest, so it suits a rock garden or a raised edge.
• Plant the bulbs 5–8 cm apart, preferably in groups of at least 10–20.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Neutral or chalky

Moisture

Dry or normal

Size

0.1 m tall, 0.05 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -25 °C)

Goes well with

• Crocus: Flowers at the same time; purple and white next to the bright yellow.
• Snowdrop: White and green go well with the yellow irises.
• Siberian squill: Deep blue little stars make a lovely contrast with yellow.
• Christmas rose: Evergreen leaves and flowers in the same spot in winter.

Danford iris: when and how to plant it?

Plant in September–November.

1. Plant from September to November, preferably early in autumn.
2. Dig a hole 15 cm deep, deeper than you would expect for such a small bulb.
3. Mix heavy soil with coarse sand or fine grit for better drainage.
4. Set the bulbs pointed end up, 5–8 cm apart.
5. Cover with soil, firm lightly and water only if the soil is bone dry.

Care

Water

Rarely needed in spring; during a long dry spell in flower, give a little water. During the summer rest keep the soil dry.

Feeding

Usually not needed. After flowering you may sprinkle a little compost or bulb fertiliser; no fresh manure.

Mulching

A thin layer of coarse sand or grit keeps the flowers clean and the soil free-draining; no thick layer of compost.

Spent flowers

Cut them off as soon as they fade: the energy then goes to the bulb rather than to seed.

Leaves

Leave them until they turn yellow, usually in May–June: they recharge the bulb for next year.

Tip: Plant the bulbs a full 15 cm deep: planted shallowly, the bulb splits after its first flowering into bulblets that will not flower for years. Do not hesitate to buy a few new bulbs each autumn.

Danford iris: when to prune it?

When: Pruning is not needed. Cut off the spent flowers and remove the leaves only when they are completely yellow and withered, usually in June.

How:

• Cut the spent flower stem off just above the ground.
• Leave the leaves in place for at least six weeks after flowering: the bulb feeds on them.
• Only when they are yellow, pull them off gently or cut them away.

Caution: Do not cut the leaves too early or tie them in knots: the bulb would flower less well next year.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Bulblets

In June–July, when the leaves are yellow: lift the clump, separate the small bulblets and replant them at once or in September at 15 cm deep. The smallest bulblets take a few years to flower.

Seed

Sow in autumn in a tray outdoors; seedlings take several years to flower. Division is much faster.

Danford iris: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −25 °C.

• Fully hardy in Belgium (down to about −25 °C): no protection needed, even under snow.
• Make sure drainage is good: for this bulb, wet feet in winter are more dangerous than cold.
• In a pot: place the pot in a sheltered spot against a wall and do not let it stand in water.

Diseases and pests

• Splitting bulb: If it no longer flowers after the first year, the bulb has split into small bulblets. Plant 15 cm deep and replace exhausted bulbs in autumn.
• Ink disease: Black spots on the bulb coat and black streaks on the leaves. Dispose of affected bulbs with household waste and do not replant bulbous irises there for a few years.
• Bulb rot: In wet, heavy soil the bulbs rot and there is no flower. Plant in free-draining soil and lighten clay with sand.
• Slugs: They sometimes eat young leaves and flowers. Pick them off by hand in the evening.

Through the year

• February: First flowers appear. Frost rarely harms them.
• March: Flowering. Bees visit. Cut off spent flowers.
• April: Leaves keep growing. Leave them.
• May: Leaves turn yellow. Do not cut them off.
• June: Remove the leaves when fully yellow. Lift and divide if needed.
• July: Summer rest. Keep the soil dry.
• September: Plant, 15 cm deep.
• October: Plant. Fill pots.
• November: Last chance to plant.
• December: Resting underground.

Edible and useful

Not edible. All parts of these bulbous irises are poisonous, especially the bulb: eating any causes vomiting, stomach ache and diarrhoea, and dogs and cats fall ill from it too. In autumn the small bulbs look like shallots or onion sets: do not store them with the kitchen onions, plant them straight away and clear up empty bags and loose bulbs. Dogs that dig easily bring them up, and dwarf irises in a pot indoors are often at a child’s height. People who cut a lot of flowers or plant a lot of bulbs sometimes get red, itchy skin from the sap: wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards. If an animal has eaten some, call your vet. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The species name refers to Danford, who collected the plant in Turkey in the 19th century.
• It flowers so early that the blooms sometimes push through a light layer of snow.
• After flowering the bulb often splits into small bulblets: this is its natural way of multiplying.