Irises in the Southeast

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     Iris albicans is the only Bearded Iris I have been able to grow here.  I have had it for over ten years.  Often, I have divided and shared plants of it.  The other Bearded Irises I tried were rebloomers, but they failed to increase and bloomed out.  The reason of my post is more for hybridizers. 

     I am wondering if Iris albicans can be used in breeding to produce offspring that would grow in the Gulf Coast region and into Florida?  Iris albicans has to be grown in pots here, but those pots can remain in place during our coldest freezes.  Is it possible Iris albicans could be used in such hybridizing?

 

Mark A. Cook

b*@bellsouth.net

Dunnellon, Florida.