About Iris kuschakewiczii B.Fedtsch.
Iris kuschakewiczii has a bulb 1.5 cm in diameter, covered with a paper-like tunic coating. It produces thickened storage roots close to the bulb base. The plant has 4 to 5 dark green glaucous leaves that are falcate, gradually tapering toward the apex. The leaves are clustered at the base, 1 to 1.5 cm wide near the base, and have a distinct contrasting white edge or margin. Including the flower, the entire plant grows to a height of 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 inches). It has a thick unbranched stem that is 3 to 5 cm long, hidden by the leaves, and holds 1 to 4 flowers. Blooms emerge between April and May. The unscented flowers sit above a 3.5 to 4.5 cm long perianth tube. Flowers occur in a range of purple shades, including greenish purple, pale violet, violet-blue, and lilac blue. The falls, which measure 3.5 to 4 cm long, have very dark violet blotches and lines on either side of a prominent white crest or white signal patch. The fall blades are oblong-obvate in shape, and are roughly 1.2 cm by 0.7 cm. The standards are 1 to 1.5 cm long, and are often 3-lobed. Flowers are approximately 6.5 to 8 cm in diameter. The bracts and bracteole are green, with membranous tips and margins. Fruits develop in late spring to early summer. In cultivation, this species is fairly easy to grow. It can be grown in an alpine house or bulb frame, and does not require much moisture during the summer. It can also be grown outdoors in a sheltered, sunny raised bed with well-drained soil.
