RE: iris lifespan - Iris setosa

 

Sean,

 

Thanks for the picture.  I noticed that the flower stock of your I. setosa is branched and it made me wonder.  I had one setosa that was about the size of your plant that had branching that looked just like yours.  I selected that plant out of the others growing in a “holding area” and put it in my garden because of the branching pattern.  As the clump got older (the next year) it no longer had the more airy lower branching on the flowers stems.  Now the second and third flowers are all close together next to the shriveled first flower and the secondary branch is huddled next to the first main branch - like all the others.  Maybe if they have the space they will use it? 

 

My white Iris setosa flowers are also shorter lived than the normal colored ones, but I am not sure if the sun has anything to do with shortening their life.  They seem to have less substance.

 

Is the soil generally moist where your setosas are located? 

 

Debbie

Anchorage, AK  - Zone 3 or 4

 

From: iris-species@yahoogroups.com [mailto:iris-species@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Sean Zera
Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2013 6:44 PM
To: iris-species@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [iris-species] iris lifespan - Iris setosa

The range of I. hookeri (setosa ssp. canadensis) extends somewhat south of northern New York, along the coast of Maine. Setosas behave properly here and do not come into growth early - it's usually the less hardy species that do. I haven't had any problems with them dying young, but mine have only reached flowering size recently, so I can't offer any suggestions on that front. The plants themselves don't seem to mind summer heat, but the flowers on my white form don't last long in the sun.

The attached photo is setosa SIGNA 08TR206 (ex. Sakhalin Island, Russia), flowering last May with South African Moraea huttonii in my terrifyingly weedy garden.

 

Sean Z

Zone 6a

SE Michigan

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