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The Merry Widow as it is so often called, particularly by older gardeners is Hermodactylus tuberosus which is traditionally separated from Iris because it has curious finger like tubers and a capsule with only one chamber instead of three (like with iris), but the leaves are similar to those of Iris reticulata. Hermodactylus tuberosus is a monotypical genus. Indeed, anyone who has grown these from seed will testify that for the first year or two, the seedlings do appear to be bulbs which generally in their third year become tubers. The time factor on the morphing change will differ from climate to climate. Dactylis means finger, and it is from these finger-like tubers which eventually come the wondrous colour combinations, arising a few inches above the blue-green leaves. The fragrant orchid like iris flowers of cooking apple green yellow standards (top petals) with funerial black; tending to be purple-black falls (lower petals) are always a sign winter is coming to an end. Singularly they are not very specky but en masse are a stunning harbinger of Spring to come. They are indigenous to the Mediterranean regions where it's bulbs become warm and dry in summer; in cultivation it needs similar conditions if it is to flower well with you. They suit the broader open garden situation best in the front of a late winter-spring-early summer border. If they are planted too close to plants which receive moisture over summer, you will find they fizzle out over a season or two. When buying in mature plants of this, then plant them in well prepared, quick draining soils, sitting the tuber around two inches below the soil's surface. This is generally offered for sale during the Fall-winter planting season. I have found that they hate disturbance, so allow them to clump up before dividing and when you do divide; do it from the outer perimeters of your clump. Hermodactylus tuberosus are at home in frosty gardens, but it is always a good idea to plant them a little deeper, say around the three inch mark. A lady who grows these to perfection in Westbury Tasmania for various charities, plants hers out every third year to a depth of four inches. Growing of so many things is always a matter of judgement on the grower's behalf. In some instances we get it wrong; but from this we learn. Some gardeners only try a new plant once, if they don't succeed they either give up or try another plant. Go To Page: 1 2
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