Rogier van Vugt

In the very south of Azerbaijan, you'll find the Talish mountains. These are the home of a beautiful iris called Iris paradoxa f. choschab. They flower briefly in the short, moist spring just before the long, dry summer arrives.

But when they flower, they steal the show with their large petals that range in colour from white with blue to yellow ochre.

These small plants belong to the so-called Oncocyclus section of Iris. A group known to be rather tricky in cultivation. They require a strict dry season in summer and also easily rot in winters that are too moist. These are definitely not plants that you simply plant in your garden, but they are incredibly beautiful and worth the effort of growing them in pots to keep them dry when needed.

Thanks to @nigar_bio @sayyara.ibadullayeva.2025 and @baku.byaida and @orchidnomad1973