I was amazed a couple of days ago to find a few flowers on this already. I have always found it to flower later than I. unguicularis, and I think our record for that is at the beginning of October. I believe this is a particularly dark form. It was collected in Northern Turkey by Paul Furse at least thirty years ago and kept going. It was only recently that I was told it is much better in shade, whereas of course I. unguicularis is supposed to like all the sun possible. In fact it does not seem to mind but maybe it starts earlier in shade! Incidentally some years ago we found a very good white form of the Greek smaller I. unguicularis and that was in almost full shade in a pine wood.

Jack Elliott (Aug 27, 2000)
Kent UK min -8C