Irises - Tapa dura

This guide to the beautiful iris makes clear distinctions between the many types of iris and gives the information gardeners need to provide the best conditions for those they covet. Superb photographs provide inspiration for both novice and expert gardeners. Written for North American gardeners, the expert text is concise and informative, including interesting anecdotes about the long history of the genus and advice on:

planting, cultivation and propagation
using irises in garden design
bearded irises
bulbous irises
beardless irises
Pacific Coast or Californian irises
Louisiana irises
Japanese irises
Siberian irises
Rocky Mountain irises
Juno irises
water-loving irises
Evansia (or crested) irises
picking and caring for blooms
pests and diseases.

With over 95 beautiful full color photographs, a selection of more than 120 plants is recommended by the authors. A glossary, a bibliography, and mail-order sources are valuable features of the book.

Pamela McGeorge is a freelance writer and was an editor of New Zealand Gardener magazine for several years.

Alison Nicoll has grown bearded irises commercially since 1978. A member of the American Iris Society, she is also a senior judge for the New Zealand Iris and a member of the British Iris Society. In 1977, Alison was invited to join a panel of judges at the International Iris Concorso in Florence, Italy.