Iris cretensis 'Kotsifou Gorge'

(aka: Iris unguicularis var. cretensis) Iris cretensis 'Kotsifou Gorge' is a 2017 Plant Delights Nursery introduction grown from a single cutting taken near the nerve-rattling Kotsifou Gorge Bridge at 1,200' elevation in Central Crete. There, Iris cretensis grows in large 6' wide mats in the dry, rocky, full sun hillsides. In the garden, Iris 'Kotsifou Gorge' makes a small 5" tall x 18" wide (5 years) rock-garden sized mound of very narrow grass-like foliage. Starting for us in mid-March, the clumps are just topped with narrow-petalled blue-lavender flowers, highlighted by a dark orange eye zone that morphs to brown toward the throat. The darker blue anastomosing veins (always wanted to use that word) radiate out from the orange through the surrounding white space, fading gracefully into the edge of the petal...truly elegant for those who appreciate fine detail. Finding a well-drained planting site is the key to success.