Iris unguicularis - whose common name is Algerian Iris although it is found across North Africa and throughout the Eastern Mediterannean including Turkey, Greece, Syria, Lebanon and Israel - was introduced to the UK by William Herbert (1778-1847), MP, botanist and later a vicar whose work on geophytes and, in particular, the Amaryllidaceae, had made him one of the most celebrated horticulturists of his day.

Iris unguicularis distinguishes itself especially by the timing of its flowers and it is the only Iris that blooms in the northern winter. In warm years it can appear as early as October although December is more usual, flowering sporadically over the coldest months. It is hard to overstate just how joyful it is to see these beautiful fragrant flowers in the middle of such grey and dull weather. If planted with autumn flowering bulbs like Lycoris or Nerine there is always the chance that their bloom period may overlap.

The foliage on Iris unguicularis is long and thin and somewhat scrappy and it is often the case that one forgets about them until the flowers appear. Which is just as well as they thrive on neglect, appreciating just being planted in a sunny sheltered spot with a moist soil and then quietly letting them get on with business of clumping up.