It's called stinking iris - but don't let the name put you off, they brighten up a winter garden

This shade-loving iris comes into its own in winter, with berries that brighten dark corners and feed the birds. And the smell's not that bad ...Tucked into hedgerows or peeping out from under trees, the stinking iris, Iris foetidissima, is in full glory right now, its vibrant coral berries bursting from their seed pods amid the deep-green foliage.In summer, Iris foetidissima is easily overlooked. Its flowers are quite beautiful up close, with their delicate veining, but from a distance are a dull-leaden blue, or blue and beige-yellow, tempered and not inelegant, but perhaps too easily lost among the dagger-like foliage (which has a meaty smell when crushed, hence its name). Continue reading...