Walking Iris - Neomarica

This is a wonderful plant. I don't even remember where I got it, I've had it for years and years. It might have come from the local flea market where I bought plants many years ago. There is a blue one that I'd love to have, but haven't seen it yet. I'll see if any of the gardeners have it in the FL forum I visit.

Here is info I found this morning to do this post.

"As a member of the Iris family from Brazil, there are approximately 15 species of Neomarica found throughout the tropical Americas. The genus name "neomarica" means new 'marica'. Plants in the genus were previously called Marica from the name of a nymph. The Latin word ‘neo’ (new) was added when it was discovered that Marica had already been used to define another genus—Cipura.

The Neomarica is commonly called Walking Iris because the flowering stalks take root after bending over and making contact with the ground. Thus, the iris appears to "walk" as it fills the garden with graceful foliage and flowers. The walking iris is also called the Apostle plant from the belief that a Neomarica will not bloom until the plant has 12 leaves.

The walking iris is produced from rhizomes and forms vigorous clumps of foliage and spring-flowering blooms reaching up to 3 feet or more. The unusual, yet attractive, flowers of walking iris appear to grow out of its sword-like, gray-green leaves. In actuality, the stem bearing the flowers is fanned out, resembling the leaves. These are followed by small plants (or offsets) that make aerial roots, which establish themselves quite easily. The flowers of walking iris also open only for a day and then take a short rest to open again several days later. This rest and bloom cycle goes on for 4-6 weeks."

For more information on click this iris click on Walking Iris

I just took this picture a few minutes ago to show you the leaves. The flower stalk bends over, and when it touches the ground starts rooting. This plant is in a pot with Desert Cassia, and yellow million bells. Behind it in the terra cotta pot is Jewels of Opar.

This is a close-up of the flower, which is a couple of inches across at the most.

Hope you are all enjoying the beginning of your summer. It is hot and steamy here once again. I mowed earlier and it's miserable out. There's more outdoor work to do, but that will have to be for another morning.

It looks like we're going to get some more rain. Afternoon T-storms are our normal summer weather pattern. I'm sure glad our drought is over.

Have a nice afternoon whatever you are doing, wherever you are.