Aril & Aril-bred Iris

From Ken Walker's Garden 


Aril iris have "beards" on their falls and some have beards on their standards. They are related to the bearded iris commonly grown in gardens. The aril refers to a white fleshy appendage on the seeds that attract ants and encourage them to disperse the seeds. There are several groups of aril iris. They are all native to the Middle East and central Asia, and are adapted to dry climates. The pure species need a climate similar to their native habitat to thrive. For example, some are grown successfully in New Mexico. I have had some aril species flower here in Concord, CA, but I'm told they never live long in this area, despite our warm rainless summers.
One group of aril iris is the oncocylus. They come in a wide variety of fascinating forms; there is a tendency toward domed standards with tucked under falls. The falls frequently have signal spots. Hybridizes have been working for decades to create plants that capture the "onco look" on plants that are as easy to grow as the bearded iris. They have been making good progress.
Regelias are another group of aril iris that have been crossed with bearded iris. These iris have beards on the upper surface of all 6 petals: the outside of the falls and the inside of the standards.

The follwing are standard abreviations:

AB = Arilbred
OGB = Oncogeliabred (1/2)
OGB+ = Oncogeliabred (more than 1/2 aril)
RB+ = Regeliabred (more then 1/2 regelia)

Arabian Archer
 Arabian Archer, Rich 1992, OGB
Photo Date: 25 March 2000
Arabian Midnight
 Arabian Midnight, Rich 1989, AB
Photo Date: 16 April 1999
It took 2 1/2 years for this iris bloom for me. It was worth the wait. I like deep rich colors and these blooms are stunning! Unfortunately it didn't bloom in 2000. The winter of 1998-1999 was unusually cold, but I wouldn't expect aril-breds to need cold to bloom.
Blond Bearded Lady
 Blond Bearded Lady, Danielson 1987, OGB+
Photo Date: 1999
Blue Arts
 Blue Arts, Danielson 1986, OGB+
Photo Date: 19 April 1999
Desert Diamond
 Desert Diamond, Hager 1988, AB
Photo Date: 13 April 1999
I really like this iris. It is a nice blue with a rounded form. I hope to get a better picture in the future.
Desert Moonlight
 Desert Moonlight, Rich 1990, OGB
Photo Date: 16 April 1999
The oncocyclus heritage of this iris shows through nicely with its large standards, tucked-under falls, and prominent signal spot. And it is growing well for me.
Gelee Royale
 Gelee Royale, Mathes 1982, OGB+
Photo Date: 2 April 2001
Esther the Queen
 Esther the Queen, Hunt 1968, OGB
Photo Date: 2 April 2000
This is another aril-bred iris that I like. It bloomed the first spring for me and has increased well each year. The colors are peculiar and subtle, and I like them! It's rather difficult to get a picture that does this iris justice. I grew some in pots after dividing it. That gave me extra control over lighting and background when I took this picture. I wasn't growing them it pots to photograph them, but it's something I may try with other iris in the future.
Iris atropurpurea
 Iris atropurpurea, species oncocyclus
Photo Date: 1999
Iris samariae
 Iris samariae, species oncocyclus
Photo Date: 1999
Iris stolonifera
 Iris Stolonifera, species regilia
Photo Date: 16 April 1999
This is an iris that I've been struggling to capture in a photo. The beards (all 6 of them) are amazing. They appear to be fluorescing blue! My pictures look dull and lifeless next to the real flower.
Kiosk
 Kiosk, Hager 1989, OGB
Photo Date: 26 March 2000
Late Amethyst
 Iris hoogiana 'Late Amethyst', species regelia
Photo Date: 8 April 2000
I find this to be a handsome iris. It's blossoms are simple with nice proportions.
Passing Fancy
 Passing Fancy, Rich 1989
Photo Date: 1 April 2000
Some people really like these flowers; the falls have a luminescent quality in sunlight.The the color scheme doesn't do that much for me, but the plant does grow and bloom well here which is a point in its favor.
White Arts
 White Arts, Danielson 1986, RB+
Photo Date: 23 April 1999
This is near to my perfect vision of a bearded irs. It has good substance and a beautiful form. The petals form clean simple lines and have lovely proportions. It is completely lacking the gaudy excesses typical of "modern" bearded iris blooms.
 Copyright 1999-2001 Kenneth Walker
This page is copyrighted. The written material in it may not be used without permission. However, the iris photographs on this page that I have taken are not copyrighted. They are in the public domain. While you may not claim ownership or authorship of these pictures,  you may otherwise use them without restriction. If you use the pictures, I don't mind being credited with taking them, though it is not required.
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