In flower this week at JLBG is the little-known, Iris speculatrix, known as Hong Kong Iris. Iris are one our specialty collections and this small, evergreen species from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, tops out at a mere 1′ tall. The specific epithet (second part of the Latin name) means “to observe”. It is related to the equally little-known, Iris henryi, koreana, minutoaurea, and odaesinensis. Iris speculatrix, which is endangered in Hong Kong, is so odd, that some taxonomic splitters moved it into a completely different genus, Zhaoanthus. Fortunately, the taxonomic community at large didn’t accept the change.
Needs full sun? Is this in the crevice garden?
We have ours planted in both full and part day sun, but have not tried it in the crevice garden.