TB: Cult: Balding

---

This picture shows two balded rhizomes.  The one on the right still has one living root, but shows unmistakable signs of balding.  It will not multiply and will soon die.  I am posting it because I believe many of you have never seen this syndrome.  You are lucky.

 

I had a few laughs from the jokes about balding in irises, but the real thing is far from funny.  One can lose an entire clump of a favorite iris from it.  In fact I lost the most beautiful seedling I’ve ever had from balding.  I know that it is caused from some combination of culture, environment and genetics, but I certainly wish that I understood it better.  I’ve seen a lot less of it now than I did last year, even though this summer has been hotter than last.  I can’t understand it.  The above rhizomes are from Man About Town, badly affected in a row where most have very vigorous, healthy clumps.  Last year I had some balded rhizomes in nearly everything.  

 

Is it, like Scorch, something that is a complete mystery to everyone?  So far we have no Scorch in Arizona.

 

Francelle Edwards  Glendale, AZ  Zone 9