Re: Irises in the Southeast

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According to the AIS Encyclopedia, I. albicans is "of very limited
fertility", and has a chromosome count of 2n=44, versus 48 or 24 for
tall bearded hybrids. Although there are some known hybrids with
albicans, I'm guessing they're sterile.

Does anyone grow the purple form?

Sean Z
SE Michigan

Quoting "Mark A. Cook" <b*@bellsouth.net>:

> 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.