CULTIVATION OF IRIS SETOSA IN THE CENTRAL NON-BLACK EARTH REGION OF RUSSIA

Among the variety of iris species and cultivars (subgenus Limniris), the species Iris setosa Pall. ex Link (beachhead iris) is rarely used in urban landscaping throughout the Central non-Black Earth region of Russia. In a humid temperate continental climate, plants of this species are winter-hardy, resistant to heterosporiosis and lodging, and bloom from late May to June, from mid-August they bear fruit regularly and abundantly, as well as easily propagate vegetatively by dividing the bush and by seeds. Some data on the structure of shoots and generative organs are presented. The paper emphasized an expediency of wider use of this species in landscaping, combining vegetative and seed reproduction, division of plants every 3-4 years, autumn terms of sowing seeds for natural stratification, and storage of seeds at subzero temperatures.