Iris reticulata, Reticulated Iris, Iridaceae

Genus and species:  
Iris reticulata
Common Name: Reticulated Iris
Family Name: Iridaceae

This flower parts are in threes and grows up to two feet tall then flops over. The leaves are square and pointy on top--kind of like the Washington Monument :) The petals stand straight up (called standards). They come in lavender, purple, and white.

Photo taken March 14, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Hyacinthus orientalis, [Dutch] Hyacinth, Asparagaceae

Genus and species:  
Hyacinthus orientalis
Common Name: [Dutch] Hyacinth
Family Name: Asparagaceae

One of my favorite plants, it has an incredibly strong sweet fragrance. The bulbs are HUGE!!! And very toxic as well as purplish. They make people itchy. The foliage is spear-shaped and the plant itself has an obvious stocky condensed shape with waxy star-shaped florets on a fat center stem. The flowers come in purple, blue, red, and peach.


Photo taken March 14, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Hellebore

Genus and species:  
Helleborus foetidus
Common Name: Bearsfoot Hellebore
Family Name: Ranunculaceae

The foliage is finely divided and tends to have leafy stalks. The flowers are much smaller than Helleborus x hybrida and are lime green. It also tends to form colonies mostly by seeding. The flowers and foliage also grow on different stalks.



Photos taken March 14, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Genus and species:

Helleborus x hybridus
Common Name: Lenten Rose
Family Name: Ranunculaceae

This plants look a bit like Eranthus. It has a lot of stamens in big clusters. The flowers and foliage grow on different stalks. The flowers come in mauve, cream, and deep purple. This plant is deer-resist and one of the most hardiest perennials there are.

Photos taken March 14, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Eranthis hyemalis, Winter Aconite, Ranunculaceae

Genus and species:  
Eranthis hyemalis
Common Name: Winter Aconite
Family Name: Ranunculaceae

This plant is a shade lover with long lasting foliage. The leaves are lobed with bright cup-shaped flowers that have six to seven petals.

Photos taken March 14, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Cyclamen hederifolium, Hardy Cyclamen, Primulaceae

Genus and species:   
Cyclamen hederifolium
Common Name: Hardy Cyclamen
Family Name: Primulaceae

Native to Europe, this plant flowers in the fall, and foliage is in the spring and summer. It has dark green variegated leaves that are heart shaped leaves with a clump form, and when in bloom, the flowers are wing-like.

Photos taken March 14, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Crocus species and hybrids, Crocus, Iridaceae

Genus and species:  
Crocus species and hybrids

Common Name: Crocus
Family Name: Iridaceae

Every heard of saffron? Well, this is where it comes from! The exact genus and speices of the Saffron Crocus is Crocus sativus. The foliage is a dead give away for identification. It has a white stripe down the middle and ends in a point. The flowers contain six petals and come in a variety of colors including yellow, purple, and white with purple.

Photo taken March 14, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Chionadoxa forbesii, Glory-of-the-Snow, Asparagaceae

Genus and species:  
Chionadoxa forbesii
Common Name: Glory-of-the-Snow
Family Name: Asparagaceae

Genetically close to another plant we'll cover down the line, Siberian Squill, this plant has narrow leaves and one or two flowers. The flowers are blue with a white center.

Photos taken March 14, 2012 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.