Friends,
They fail for me too in my yard, in Asheville, NC
where they are prolifically native. Not exactly flat, my yard contains no
embankment, where they prosper. I interpret this to mean that they want
the gradual downflow of moisture, yet with good drainage. This seems to be
the same for germination of Oxydendron seed. I have a beauty of a specimen
which throws lot of seed, but there is never any germination.
\ In the extreme back of my yard there is an 8' foot
slope into my neighbor's yard. We cordially agree that we do not know
exactly where the boundary is, so she encourages me to plant anything I want
there. I have put in raspberries, and note that there are some oxydendron
seedlings there. Cristata is invisible now. In a few weeks it will appear
and bloom. I'll test my theory by putting some when they begin to go
dormant on that modest bank, and we will see if they thrive there.
James Harrison
----- Original Message -----
From:
j*@kc.rr.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 10:23
PM
Subject: Re: [iris-species] Hidden
Mystery
On Feb 20, 2009, at 4:26 PM, Dennis Kramb wrote:
"Hidden Mystery".
Why?
Because it seems to be
a new form (subspecies) of Iris cristata.
"Unlike all other forms
currently in commerce with rhizomes that spread
on top of the soil surface, the
rhizomes of this spread below ground
more like its Asian relative Iris
japonica.
My only problem is that I've tried at least a dozen
types of Iris
cristata in my
garden and lost them all within a matter of 2 yrs or
less.
◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊
Very
interesting. I can just imaging the critters having a feast on those nice
upright rhizomes. Even the typical cristata can be eaten in not covered by
leaves in the winter. The upright rhizomes look the same as the usual
horizontal ones, I wonder just how they spread? The large bud in the center
has the flower and the side buds develop into the new rhizomes. How do they
get back to the soil and then upright again, just too weird!
I have only
lost cristata in really bad drought years. It loves living on the north side
of a house. Bright light but never full sun. It can grow really wet but always
needs good drainage. I've seen it growing in vernal streams and even hanging
off a waterfall. It is common on steep north slopes where it's
native.
The buds on
my cristatas have started to swell, they are getting anxious for
spring.
Jim
Jim Murrain
8871 NW Brostrom Rd
Kansas City, Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Zone 6
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