PlantFiles: Stinking Gladwyn, Stinking Iris
Iris foetidissima

Guides and Information

Sponsored Links

Welcome!

You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!

Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.

Login

If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.

Username:

Password:

Family: Iridaceae (eye-rid-AY-see-ee) (Info)
Genus: Iris (EYE-ris) (Info)
Species: foetidissima (fet-uh-DISS-ih-muh) (Info)

» View all varieties of Iris

4 vendors have this plant for sale.

9 members have or want this plant for trade.

Class:
Species

Height:
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)

Spacing:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)

Hardiness:
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)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)

Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade

Danger:
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction

Bloom Color:
Pale Yellow
Purple

Bloom Time:
Late Midseason (MLa)

Foliage:
Evergreen
Aromatic
Smooth-Textured

Other details:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater

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

Propagation Methods:
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
From seed; direct sow after last frost

Seed Collecting:
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds

Awards (if applicable):
Unknown - Tell us

Click thumbnail
to view:
By Baa

By Baa

By vince

By Galanthophile

By bonitin

By mgarr

There are a total of 10 photos.
Click here to view them all!

Profile:

No positives
3 neutrals
No negatives

Gardeners' Notes:

Rating	Author	Comment
Neutral	Joan	On Nov 7, 2009, Joan from Belfield, ND (Zone 4a) wrote: Editor's Note Rhizomes (thickened roots) and rootstocks, fresh or dry, of all Iris species and cultivars are poisonous if ingested. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and elevated temperature following ingestion. Some resources claim the toxic principal (irisin, iridin, irisine) only cause low toxicity if eaten. Skin irritation can develop upon contact with seeds, rhizomes, rootstock, or cell sap. We tend to err on the side of caution in PlantFiles, and the danger notation in the details above is to warn gardeners, parents, and pet owners to look further for more information.
Neutral	girlndocs	On Mar 2, 2007, girlndocs from Tacoma, WA wrote: The stinky smell resembles, I think, garlic. It's not very prominent on my plant unless I actually bruise or break the leaves. I found my plant in the alley, chucked out by one of the neighbors. Don't know how long it lay out there but it responded very fast to being stuck in the soil, and even flowered that year. That's a tough plant! I only wish the flowers were more conspicuous, I guess I'll have to find a place for this one closer to the walkway. They're pretty flowers and interesting, if not showy.
Neutral	Baa	On Oct 8, 2001, Baa wrote: It always worries me when the botanical name means the smelliest. A rhizomatous, perennial Iris from South and West Europe and North Africa. Has sword like, evergreen, dark green leaves which is the source of the botanical name and have an unpleasent smell when crushed. Bears purple heavily tinged with yellow flowers which while 2-3 inches long are rather insignificant. The real attractive part of this plant are the seeds, the pods split open to reveal bright orange, yellow or occasionally white seeds which remain in place for some months. Flowers May-July Likes well drained soil in a sunny position although its not all that fussy really. Easy to grow and has good Autumn colour with the seeds.