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An awesome - and I don't use this word lightly - hardy Impatiens from Eastern Africa. John Grimshaw in the UK speaks highly of this species. To 6' tall in morning sun or light shade with awesome (there i go again) 3" wide flat-faced white flowers with a red throat. Gorgeous. Perennial big tuberous roots. Not a seeding bully.

A very good selection of Winter Iris - the species can start flowering in February here for us and at that time of the year, even the worst selection looks mighty fine but this one is truly worthy. Blue standards - the central upright petals - and blue falls - the large lower petals - that carry a broad white blotch with fine blue lines. Good drainage and moderate to less water in summer.

Seed-grown from a collection by Daniel Winkler near Chonye on the Tibetan Plateau. Widely distributed in Asia and throughout the various 'stans, this remains oddly rare in commerce and is not often cultivated. Thanks to Fran Hawk for flowering and identifying this collection before ours bloomed! Narrow pale lavender tinted falls with soft blue-ish standards.

These grow beautifully in the UBC Asian Garden in Vancouver where it grows up to 15'. Typically we would expect 6' or so in in the garden with the pale waxy evergreen leaves providing nice backing for the creamy multi-petaled flowers. Best in a mild garden like Seattle or PT.