As a member of the Iris family from Brazil, there are approximately 15 species of Neomarica found throughout the tropical Americas. The genus name “neomarica” means new ‘marica’. Plants in the genus were previously called Marica from the name of a nymph. The Latin word ‘neo’ (new) was added when it was discovered that Marica had already been used to define another genus —Cipura.
The Neomarica is commonly called Walking Iris because the flowering stalks take root after bending over and making contact with the ground.
Thus the iris appears to walk as it fills the garden with graceful foliage and flowers.
The unusual, yet attractive, flowers of walking iris appear to grow out of its sword-like, gray-green leaves. In actuality, the stem bearing the flowers is fanned out, resembling the leaves [Instagram photo].
The flowers of walking iris also open only for a day [spreading an unusual, yet attractive, delicious perfume].
Two of the most commonly grown species of walking iris include N. caerulea and N. gracilis. N. caerulea has flowers that are vibrant, mid-blue with brown, orange and yellow claws. N. gracilis [yes] has stunning [purple-ish] blue and white flowers.
Nikki Phipps wrote those infos @ plantingflowerbulbs.
Double bloom not once, but twice, simultaneously..!
Photos by me, March 2013. The double bloom seems quite unusual, yet occasional. Let's see Walking Iris' double bloom by Gloria Reiss.
Time-lapse of a walking Iris flower – by feinberj
