The
32-chromosome tetraploid bearded irises are all members of a single
species, I. pumila (unless one regards the similar I.
taurica and I. alexeenkoi as distinct). This is
among the smallest of all bearded irises, with blooms held only a few
inches above the ground, stemless or nearly so. Its range in nature
is centered on the Ukraine, extending westward to Austria, and
southeastward through Russia to the Caucasus. It has many color
forms, from blue and purple through yellow, cream, and white, usually
with a contrasting spot on the falls. Crosses between I. pumila
and tall bearded irises gave rise to the modern standard dwarfs,
and thus indirectly to most modern IBs and MDBs. The genetic
contribution of the species to the dwarf and median irises of today
has been enormous.
Iris pumila
It is reportedly endangered in some areas, at least in the western part of its range. Certainly plants have become more difficult to obtain commercially, and the many dozens of collected clones available to breeders in the 1960s have dwindled to just a few. Fortunately, a number of named varieties have been introduced over the years from pure I. pumila breeding, and several of these are still available (Most were registered as MDBs, some recent ones as SPEC). Some rock garden nurseries offer plants, and the species appears regularly in seed exchanges and in the lists of seed collectors. Seed collection from a number of localities has also helped increase the range of available forms.
Since there are no other species to expand the gene pool of this family (the diploids I. attica and I. pseudopumila (adriatica) are ancestors of I. pumila, and so presumably carry very similar genes), it is unlikely that further breeding will expand the range of characteristics seen in the plants. Nevertheless, it is important to keep a range of garden pumilas available, both to preserve the species itself, and to use for new lines of breeding, such as the expansion of the arilpum family. Growing forms from wild-collected seed from varied locales is important in maintaining the diversity of the species in cultivation. My own priority with this species is to collect as many varieties as I can, and raise pumila seedlings that I can use in breeding and to make plants and seeds available to other growers and hybridizers. I'm also selecting for garden qualities that appeal to me:
vigor in my gardensmall, narrow foliage
appealing form (I prefer gently rounded falls, upright standards, and some width, but also look for the unusual)
color variations
I've compiled a listing of Iris pumila cultivars that may be of use in building a collection of pumilas.
I've been obtaining Iris pumila plants and seeds from various sources each year, as well as growing pumilas from my own crosses. I probably raise more pumila seedlings each year than any other single type of iris. It is rewarding to have a number of different colors and patterns to use in hybridizing each year. In 2019, I began to focus my selections more on small pants with small, narrow foliage. It is particularly important for MDB breeding that the pumilas used be small and delicate if the hybrids are to remain proportionate and in scale. This is true to a lesser extent in arilbred dwarf breeding, where large pumilas used as parents can push the seedlings into the arilbred median height range.
Iris pumila: A Tiny Treasure (AIS blog)
Dwarfs for Every Garden (AIS blog)
The Miniature Dwarfs: A Hybridizer's Survey of the Class, its History, and its Potential
Narrated Powerpoint presentation Dwarf Bearded Irises: The Three Types of MDBs on Youtube
Carpathia (R. Schreiner). MDB, height 4" (10 cm), Early bloomseason. Standards full yellow; falls yellow-brown, edged lighter yellow. A Transylvanian (Rumanian) form of I. pumila from collected seed. Schreiner's.
Nana (R. Schreiner). MDB, 4" (10 cm), E. red-violet blend; darker spots on F.; bluish beards. A Crimean (Ukrainian) form of I. pumila from collected seed. Schreiner's.
Sulina (R. Schreiner, unregistered). MDB, Height 4" (10 cm), Early bloom season. Deep violet-blue; darker spots on falls.; blue beards. A Rumanian form of I. pumila from collected seed. Schreiner's.
This trio of pumilas from collected seed ushered in the modern era of median breeding. Each had its own distinctive qualities that contributed to the range of variety in the early SDBs. Along with Paul Cook's pumila seedling 1546, these cultivars are behind the ancestry of most modern SDBs, MDBs, and IBs.
Cretica (Atchley by A.I.S. Directors, R. 1952). MDB, height 4" (10 cm), Early bloomseason. Smoky pinkish red-purple; darker spots on falls; lavender beards. A form of I. pumila found in Crete, 1929.
This iris is quite a mystery, since I. pumila is not otherwise reported to exist on the island of Crete. Whatever the source of this clone, its impact on median breeding has been enormous. 'Cretica', unlike other forms of I. pumila, does not seem to impede the expression of recessive TB colors and patterns, such as tangerine pink and plicata. Thus the variety of the modern medians owes a great deal to its influence.
Little Drummer Boy (A. & D. Willott, R. 1997). Sdlg. W 94-49. MDB, 4" (10 cm), E. Lightly ruffled white, large violet F. spot; beards cream. W 91-85: ('Pittance' x W 79-13: (Greenlee GX-2: (('White Mite' x self) x (I. pumila alba x Hanselmayer)) x 'Buttons')) X W 92-6: (Kuban pumila #205 x 'Daring Eyes'). Willott 1997. Caparne-Welch Medal 2005.
This MDB from pure I. pumila breeding won the Caparne-Welch Medal in 2005, proving that the potential of the species to produce superior garden varieties is not exhausted. I cannot think of any other case (outside the SPEC classification) where a selected variety of an iris species has secured the top award for a horticultural class.
The list below shows the name of each plant I currently grow, the source, and the year acquired.
2011 |
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2016, 2019 |
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2016, 2019 |
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Iris pumila ex Czechia |
2019 |
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2016 |
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2011, 2019 |
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2013 |
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2014 |
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Sherry Jesberger |
2013 |
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Carol Coleman |
2014 |
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Peepers |
Wildwood Gardens |
2011 |
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Carol Coleman |
2013 |
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Elm Jensen |
2014 |
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Carol Coleman |
2012 |
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ex Armenia, from Juráek seed |
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ex Armenia, from Juráek seed |
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ex Armenia, from Juráek seed |
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from Juráek seed |
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"clausii" X aequiloba |
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ex Balkaria, Caucasus, from Holubec seed |
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ex Balkaria, Caucasus, from Holubec seed |
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I. pumila Wild Ginger Farm X Hildenbrandt (SIGNA) 04A004 |
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P023-02 |
I. pumila taurica Wrightman Alpines X I. pumila Wild Ginger Farm |
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P028-01 |
from SRGC seed |
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P033-02 |
P002-06 X Hildenbrandt (SIGNA) 04A004 |
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P002-06 X Hildenbrandt (SIGNA) 04A004 |
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ex Caucasus, from Juráek seed |
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SIGNA 14DB198; wc Kecske-Hegy Mts, Hungary |
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Hobbit X P003-01 |
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Hobbit X P003-01 |
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Little Drummer Boy X Sudden Butterflies |
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Little Drummer Boy X Sudden Butterflies |
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P002-13 X unknown |
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P002-13 X unknown |
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P002-13 X unknown |
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Royal Wonder X unknown |
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Royal Wonder X unknown |
Illustration: 'Hobbit' (Miller '04): an MDB from pure I. pumila breeding.
September 2010
updated March 2020
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Unless otherwise noted, all text and illustrations copyright Tom Waters and all photographs copyright Tom or Karen Waters. Please do not reproduce without permission.