Re: more of Iris henryi (clone #8)

 

I don't know for sure. I know that it comes from China, but I don't know specifically where. And the USDA map of China ranges from 2 through 10.

I'm in Zone 6 (almost 5) and I have it growing within 3 feet of my house, on the western side in semi-shade (its nearest neighbor is Iris foetidissima). I acquired it in June 2013 as a small potted plant and you can see it has increased vigorously since then. I think last year it had just 1 or 2 flowering fans, this year it's more like 12.

I love the fact that it makes a tight clump. Iris koreana is closely related, has bright yellow flowers, blooms just a few days earlier, and looks identical in many ways, but it is a runner & a spreader.

I know of 2 people growing Iris henryi in southern Michigan, USDA Zone 5. So your Zone 3 might be feasible in a cold frame, but I have no idea if it would survive unprotected.

I selfed my plants to send seed to SIGNA. I also crossed henryi with koreana. It's too soon to tell if any of the crosses worked. (I also tried foetidissima and bearded iris pollen on koreana.)

Dennis in Cincinnati

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