Alophia amoena (Chilean iris)

Japanese name: チリーアヤメ
Scientific name: Alophia amoena

[Overview]
A perennial with an underground corm.
The spherical body is wrapped in a brown outer coat and is spindle-shaped.
About 5 leaves grow from the base; they are linear, 5–18 cm long.
Propeller-shaped flowers are borne at the tip of a flower stalk about 10 cm tall.
The flowers are 4–5 cm across and pale bluish purple; the 3 rounded outer tepals spread open, and the base bears patterns in darker and lighter shades.
There are 3 small inner tepals, dark bluish purple.
The flowers open in the morning and wither by evening, lasting one day, but they bloom one after another.
The fruit is cylindrical, about 10 mm long and 5 mm across.
It becomes dormant in summer.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed; it also spreads readily by self-sown seed.
It prefers poor, somewhat dry soil that is warm and sunny in winter.
In regions where winter temperatures fall below −5°C, protection from the cold is necessary.
For potted plants, in the growing season from autumn to spring water thoroughly once the soil has dried, taking care not to make it too wet.
For plants in the ground, watering is not necessary.
It is dormant in summer, so watering is not necessary.
Fertilizer is hardly necessary; if applied, give a small amount in autumn after the leaves have unfolded.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

View this page in Japanese (日本語)