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Iris pallida 'Argentea Variegata' (Dalmatian Iris) - This evergreen Iris (in our climate) displays white variegation on the broad gray-green swordlike leaves that reach 18 to 30 inches tall. The pale lavender-blue flowers with yellow beards appear on branched stems in the late spring and early summer and have a delicious grape soda fragrance.
This plant does best in full coastal sun or light shade with moist soil and it is hardy to well below 0 degrees F. Remove older leaves as new leave emerge in spring to tidy it up and divide clumps every 3 to 4 years or as needed. A very attractive plant for the perennial garden, along the border of in containers and it does not seem to be attractive to deer or rabbits.
Iris pallida is one of the so called Dalmation Irises because it is native to the Velebit Mountains of Dalmatia, a province of Croatia and is also found in the southern Alps and the Istrian Peninsula in the Crimea. The specific epithet comes from the pale flower color which is pallid compared to the darker Iris germanica. This selection has slightly smaller flowers then the pale-yellow variegated form called Iris pallida 'Variegata', which we have also grown, but we have found this plant with its striking white-striped leaves to be he more durable and sustainable in the garden of the two. This attractive old garden plant is sometimes grown under the invalid name of Iris pallida 'Albo Variegata'. We have grown and sold this plant since 1998.
The information displayed on this page about Iris pallida 'Argentea Variegata' is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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