Germanic iris It is a species of perennial monocot cultivated as an ornamental plant that belongs to the Iridaceae family. Known as bearded iris, blue lily, bearded lily, purple lily, common lily, purple lily or paschal lily, it is a species native to Central Europe.
It is a short herbaceous plant with leafy stems that develops rhizomes or underground bulbs that store water and nutrients. The long basal leaves emerge from the bulb and the inflorescences grow from a flower stalk that groups 3-6 purple or purple flowers..
Each actinomorphic flower is made up of three ovate sepals folded in front, and three firm petals that cover the reproductive organs of the flower. Flowering occurs from spring to late summer.
Its main attraction is the decorative effect of its flowers, which varies from white and blue, to various shades of lavender and purple. It is grown individually or in groups in gardens, beds, slopes or rockeries, even on the banks of streams, ponds or water gardens.
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It is a rhizomatous or bulbous herbaceous plant with erect, smooth and bright green stems that reach 50-60 cm in height. Long hollow or solid flower stalks develop at the base of the stem, which can be simple or branched.
The lanceolate basal leaves are scattered from 3 to 11 linear leaflets along the flower stem. They are smooth in texture, light green in color and have parallel veins, they measure 40-50 cm in length by 3-4 cm in width..
The flowers are grouped 3-6 units in terminal fan-shaped inflorescences at the end of a long floral scape. Each flower consists of 3 sepals and 3 petals, curved or erect, 8-12 cm long by 5-6 cm wide, of blue or purple tones.
The fruit is an indehiscent capsule of a few millimeters, elongated and angular. Inside it contains several dark brown, globular and wrinkled seeds.
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Liliopsida
- Order: Asparagales
- Family: Iridaceae
- Subfamily: Iridoideae
- Tribe: Irideae
- Gender: Iris
- Species: Germanic iris L.
- Iris: the name of the genus comes from the term "Iris", name of the Greek goddess of the rainbow, granted by the diversity of colors of its flowers.
- germanica: The specific adjective is related to the geographic origin of the species.
Flowering occurs from early spring to mid-summer. On each floral scape, 3 to 6 blue-purple or bluish-violet flowers are formed with a dense short yellow beard at the base of the tepals..
Of the species Iris germanica Several varieties have been developed, such as the 'fall fiesta' or 'florentina' cultivars that present a wide range of colors. These cultivars can be white, yellow, orange, blue, purple or red, and can even be mottled or tinged..
One of the propagation techniques of the blue lily is through seeds obtained from commercial plantations. The seeds collected from wild plants are not very fertile, so an effective germination percentage is not guaranteed..
The seeds planted in a universal substrate under suitable conditions of humidity, temperature and lighting germinate 15-30 days after sowing. Propagation by seeds is a slow process that produces heterogeneous plants, its use is limited to research practices rather than commercial purposes.
Vegetative propagation by means of bulbs or rhizome divisions makes it possible to obtain homogeneous plants with the phenotypic characteristics of the mother plant. Generally, blue lilies propagated by bulbs or rhizomes bloom one year after planting, so it is recommended to establish planting during the spring.
For sowing, the bulbs or rhizomes obtained from productive plants, vigorous and free of pests or diseases, are planted in rooting beds or pots. It is recommended to use a fertile substrate and apply rooting phytohormones, maintain constant humidity and temperature until the flower stem sprouts.
Keeping in mind that the blue lily blooms in spring, new plantings are made in late spring or fall. Plants grown in pots can be transplanted every two years, to take advantage of the bulbs and shoots of their rhizomes.
The blue lily requires fertile, deep and well-drained soils, as well as full sun exposure or 6-7 hours of direct sun exposure. It can be located in half shade, but never indoors, otherwise it will not bloom or the flowers will be very scarce.
Plants grown in pots require frequent watering, once or twice a week, avoiding waterlogging the substrate. Commercial plantations or plantings in parks and gardens are maintained with seasonal rainfall, in case of dry periods it can be watered once a week.
The application of organic fertilizers is recommended when establishing the crop, avoiding the application of fertilizers with high nitrogen content. Indeed, nitrogen fertilizers increase the foliar area, but can generate a greater susceptibility to bacterial diseases..
Maintenance and sanitation pruning can be done after flowering. It is not advisable to remove the leaves unless they are withered or damaged, as they protect and nourish the plant during its development for the next season..
The blue lily is a species tolerant to cold and occasional frosts down to -15 ºC. In fact, it can be kept outside all year round..
Adverse conditions favored by high temperatures and very humid environments are conducive to the incidence of various pests and diseases.
- Aphids (Aphis gossypii): they suck the sap from the flower buds, wilting and weakening the plants. Its control is carried out by biological methods and using adhesive anti-aphid traps.
- Trips (Frankliniella occidentalis): small biting-sucking insects that feed on young leaves. Its attack causes brown spots on leaves and flower buds, affecting the commercial quality of the crop..
- Nematodes (Ditylenchus sp. Y Meloidogyne sp.): the main damage affects the rhizomes and young shoots. The infestation begins at the base of the bulb and spreads to the foliage of the plant. Severe attacks can kill the plant.
- Botrytis or gray mold (Botrytis cinerea): occurs in humid and warm environments. Symptoms manifest as reddish pustules on senescent tissues or wounds caused by physical damage..
- Fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum): phytopathogenic fungus that initially causes a reddish-brown rot in bulbs and rhizomes. Later, there is general chlorosis and wilting of the leaves, general weakness and death of the plant.
- Rust (Puccinia sp.): the first symptoms appear as small yellow pustules on the upper part of the leaves. As the disease progresses, pinkish spots develop on the underside that later turn whitish.
The leaves of the blue lily contain various active ingredients that provide certain medicinal properties. Among them essential oils, organic acids, ketones, phytosterols, flavonoids, sesquiterpenes, mucilages and mineral salts that provide anti-inflammatory, expectorant, demulcent, diuretic and moisturizing action..
Its consumption is indicated in case of asthma attacks, bronchitis, intestinal spasms, stomatitis or ulcers in the mouth. Used as a concentrated decoction it is used as an effective purgative. In some people it can cause nausea and vomiting or dermatitis at the slightest contact.
The blue lily is an ornamental plant with very attractive flowers that is used to decorate parks and gardens by forming borders or terraces. It can be grown in pots or planters in association with other similar species, such as tulips.
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