Dark and light
03/06/24 Filed in: Blossom
Similar shapes and contrasting colours
Not that it bothers me but judging by the coverage of poppy ‘Lauren’s Grape’ in the 2024 Chelsea Flower Show my planting is right on trend.
Poppies Papaver ‘Lauren’s Grape’ and Papaver ‘Royal Wedding’
Both of these were raised from seed. ‘Lauren’s Grape’ is an annual with lovely glaucous foliage that sets off the blooms. I am hoping it will self seed madly around the garden. ‘Royal Wedding” is a perennial with finely cut green foliage.
Having spotted this contrast I went looking for more examples and found these irises
Iris chrysographes ‘Just Around Midnight” and Iris foetidissima ‘Citrina’
‘Just Around Midnight’ was supplied bare root but I grew ‘Citrina’’ from seed and have waited three years for it to flower. The foetidissima refers to the scent of the foliage which has a scent that has given rise to its common names such as roast-beef iris or stinking iris. It is really a bit unfair because the leaves only smell if you bruise them and it is not that strong or unpleasant. This is a tough plant that does not mind dry shade and comes into its own again when the seed pods burst to reveal orange berries in the autumn.
Poppies Papaver ‘Lauren’s Grape’ and Papaver ‘Royal Wedding’
Both of these were raised from seed. ‘Lauren’s Grape’ is an annual with lovely glaucous foliage that sets off the blooms. I am hoping it will self seed madly around the garden. ‘Royal Wedding” is a perennial with finely cut green foliage.
Having spotted this contrast I went looking for more examples and found these irises
Iris chrysographes ‘Just Around Midnight” and Iris foetidissima ‘Citrina’
‘Just Around Midnight’ was supplied bare root but I grew ‘Citrina’’ from seed and have waited three years for it to flower. The foetidissima refers to the scent of the foliage which has a scent that has given rise to its common names such as roast-beef iris or stinking iris. It is really a bit unfair because the leaves only smell if you bruise them and it is not that strong or unpleasant. This is a tough plant that does not mind dry shade and comes into its own again when the seed pods burst to reveal orange berries in the autumn.
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