Orchid Iris, Reticulate Iris 'Katharine Hodgkin'

Iris histrioides

Family
Iridaceae (eye-rid-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Iris (EYE-ris)
Synonym
Additional cultivar information
(aka Katherine Hodgkin, Kathryn Hodgkin)
Height
under 6 in. (15 cm)
Spacing
3-6 in. (7-15 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Danger
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color
Blue-Violet
Foliage
Herbaceous
This plant is resistant to deer
Textured
Class
Species (SPEC)
Bloom Time
Extra early (EE)
Other Details
Other details
Propagation Methods
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
Seed Collecting
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Awards (if applicable)
Foliage Color
Blue-Green
Bloom Characteristics
Flowers are good for cutting
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Where to Grow
Can be grown as an annual
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

San Jose, California

Clifton, Colorado

East Haddam, Connecticut

Chicago, Illinois

Palos Heights, Illinois

Skowhegan, Maine

Ellicott City, Maryland

Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

Nantucket, Massachusetts

Wayland, Massachusetts

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Toledo, Ohio

Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Columbia, South Carolina

Richmond, Texas

Bruce, Wisconsin

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Gardener's Notes:

3
positives
0
neutral
0
negative
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V
(Zone 8a) | February 2011 | positive

Planted in fall 2010, supposed to be a perennial to zone9. Avoid overwatering during summer, its dormant time. They are very low to th...Read More

A
A
Palos Heights, IL | March 2009 | positive

I planted these last fall and was so pleased to see the first one blooming 2 days ago. Something different than crocuses and p-ussy will...Read More

B
Nantucket, MA (Zone 7a) | April 2006 | positive

I planted a grouping in late Nov from a bag out of sale bin of unmarked bulbs from an Agway store in Vt. I planted them in Nantucket ...Read More

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