Orthrosanthus

( ohr - thro - ZAN - thus )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Morning Flag or Morning Iris, this genus of evergreen perennials grows from rhizomes and needs partial shade in warmer climates and moderate water. Blooms appear in blue, lavender, or white and open in order in summertime. Flowers look best in the morning, and fade as the day progresses. These flowers are perfect for sunny sloped areas, rock gardens, and containers. They will tolerate poor and sandy soils but perform best in rich, well-draining soil.

Orthrosanthus Species and Varietals

The genus Orthrosanthus is a member of the plant family Iridaceae and includes nine species. Morning Flag grows best in zones 14-17 and 19-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Orthrosanthus chimboracensis
This species produces clumps of foliage 1-1.5 feet tall and pale blue to medium-blue flowers held on 2-foot tall stems.

Orthrosanthus multiflora
This species creates a 1-2 foot tall, 1 foot wide clump of foliage from which a stem rises, carrying pale to bright blue flowers. This species is heat-tolerant and is great at providing foliage to landscapes.

Caring for Orthrosanthus

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

Wikipedia: Orthrosanthus
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 465, Orthrosanthus
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