The Junos make up the largest group of bulbous irises with something around 60 species. Officially the subgenus 'Scorpiris', they form a natural group characterized by their bulbs which are somewhat fleshy and have from a few to several thick, also fleshy storage roots. Except for a single Mediterranean species, most occur from the middle east to Central Asia, but none quite get to China. Some species are hardy and easy to cultivate as far north as Canada, while others are very tender even in English gardens. All are dormant in summer, and produce foliage either in mid-winter or early spring. Culture is variable, but good drainage and summer dormancy are common requirements. Some species demand copious water in spring, others far less. Check specific care for each species. This information provided by Jim Waddick. Species and cultivars S-Z found on this page.
Iris 'Sindpers' is a Juno hybrid. It is believed to be a cross of I. sindjarensis (now considered a synonym of I. aucheri) x I. persica, hence the name. Whatever its parentage, it is a very beautiful, floriferous plant, shown here flowering in an unheated bulb frame in late February. It is kept dry in summer, when it is dormant. Photo by Jane McGary.
Iris stenophylla grows on rocky hillsides in southern Turkey at fairly high altitudes. Flowers are violet to lilac blue with a yellow crest surrounded by a white, violet spotted zone. Photos by Jane McGary and (the second) from Rob Hamilton of a form with pale blue flowers and dark spotting on the falls once but no longer considered to be a valid subspecies (allisonii), flowering mid winter.
Iris tubergeniana is a compact growing species from Central Asia with greenish yellow flowers. It grows on bare slopes, mainly on red soils and blooms in early April. Photos were taken by Oron Peri in its habitat in Uzbekistan.
Iris vicaria is from the Pamir-Altai Mtns of Central Asia. It is a medium to tall plant with flowers that are pale bluish violet, veined darker with a yellow or whitish crest and a yellow blotch. Photos by John Lonsdale.
Iris warleyensis Foster is a Juno from Central Asia. The pictured plant and several others of this species were grown from seed collected by Josef Halda in the mid-1990s and supplied without species identification. This is one of the most colorful Junos. The first photo by Jane McGary shows it flowering in a bulb frame in Oregon in March, kept dry in summer and covered against rain. The second photo by Oron Peri was taken in its habitat in Uzbekistan. Bulb photo by Peter Taggart.
Iris 'Blue Warslind' is a hybrid of two Junos, I. bucharica and I. warleyensis. Bulb photo by Peter Taggart.
Iris willmottiana is from Central Asia and is a short robust plant with glossy leaves and pale lavender-blue flowers with a large white area on the falls and violet-blue blotches and lines. Photo in its habitat in Aksu Zhabagli, 2900 m Kazakhstan by Oron Peri.
Iris willmottiana 'Alba' - One of the first of the Juno iris to bloom and one of my very favorites is Iris willmottiana 'Alba', with pristine white flowers over densely tufted "corn-stalk-like" dark green foliage, the leaf margins with a fine whitish ciliate edge. Photo by Mark McDonough.
Iris zaprjagajewii from Central Asia is a short plant of 4-6" (10-15 cm) with pure white flowers and some light bluish or lilac staining and a yellow crest. Photo by John Lonsdale.
Iris zenaidae is listed with I. graeberiana.
Iris Index - Beardless iris A-K - Beardless iris L-R - Beardless iris S-Z - Crested Irises - Garden Bearded Irises - Juno iris A-I - Juno iris J-R - Juno iris S-Z - Aril Irises - Miscellaneous Irises - Pacific Coast Irises - Reticulata Irises - Spanish Irises - Belamcanda - Hermodactylus - Pardanthopsis