Just like the common sky blue version of Iris cristata, the white flower form (alba) is a low-growing (3†to 6†high) spreading plant. I got this plant from a local garden center (you’re probably familiar with Mahoney’s if you live in eastern Massachusetts) and barely 3 weeks out of the pot they have started to spread. There’s a certain aggressiveness that aids in its use as a low groundcover. I should have realized that when I observed the blue form, only planted last fall, take possession of a neglected corner in my garden. Both the blue and white forms are perfect for shaded gardens. The flowers appear in April, but the plant keeps producing leaves and, I presume, underground rhizomes, during much of the summer. You will notice that the bulbous roots remain visible on the surface, so there is no need to plant these deep in the soil. This feature makes Iris cristata a great fit when you are contending with tree roots and buried rocks. If find that dwarf crested iris goes well with ferns of any kind.
Captivating by itself, overwhelmingly beautiful in large numbers
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