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The AGS and Winterbourne Gardens link up to help rare plants

May 15, 2023
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 Rare Iris unguicularis cultivars for the AGS Garden

Winterbourne Gardens in Edgbaston, owned by the University of Birmingham, holds a National Collection of rare Iris unguicularis – known as the Winter flowering Algerian Iris. With just one species and eleven named cultivars this collection is small but important since most of the plants are not available for sale in nurseries. They have been grown for many years at Winterbourne and some are displayed in the beautiful gardens there.

Gail Devries with Head gardener Dan Cartwright

AGS member Gail Devries is a regular volunteer in the AGS garden, and organises the open days for the National Garden Scheme. She thought these iris could be planted in the garden at Pershore and contacted Winterbourne’s Head Gardener Dan Cartwright who was happy to help. Gail recently collected the species Iris unguicularis from Dan along with the cultivars ‘Kilbroney Marble‘, ‘Cumnor Hill’, and ‘Francis Wormsley’. They are now potted up until they have grown on and are ready for planting in the AGS garden.

For more about Winterbourne please visit:

www.winterbourne.org.uk