Graeme Grosvenor is one of the world's leading authorities on the iris and he has endeavored to make this book the world's most comprehensive and up-to-date on the subject. For those captivated by the gentle beauty of the iris, this book offers a wealth of information. It contains a spectacular panorama of colour plates covering current popular cultivars as well as other superb new ones. The text elaborates on characteristics of each of the cultivars and explains propagation and growing points associated with each of them.
Specific information on particular iris cultivars is easily comprehended because each is presented against a thorough coverage of the whole iris family. Graeme Grosvenor explains clearly the division of the genus into the subgenus level: bulbous, tuberous, and rhizomatous. Within each group he defines further subcategories; for instance he defines within the rhizomatous subgenus the characteristics of the bearded, beardless and crested groups. The reader can then easily understand the various methods of cultivation, recommended cultivars and garden tips relevant to that group.
Graeme is intimately involved in cultivating the iris of the future. The iris of the future is predicted with computer images generated by Jim Frazier.
This is a book of encyclopedic knowledge combining the keen attention to detail of a scientific mind with the warmth of someone who has never exhausted his simple love of a beautiful flower.
